Drunk Pilot Stopped on Runway at Colorado Airport With BAC 5 Times Legal Limit
A potentially dangerous situation was narrowly avoided at Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Metro Airport (KBJC) after air traffic control halted a pilot suspected of being under the influence—before he could take off.
The incident occurred when the pilot of a small single-engine 1964 Mooney aircraft, callsign N7828V, attempted to taxi onto Runway 30. Air traffic controllers immediately noticed irregularities in his communication. When asked which runway he preferred, the pilot replied “3-8-0”—a runway that doesn’t exist. After some back-and-forth and continued slurred speech, controllers grew concerned.
The pilot struggled to repeat his callsign and couldn’t even pronounce the word “taxi” properly. Suspecting intoxication, the air traffic controller instructed the pilot to shut down his engine and await airport personnel.
When law enforcement arrived, they found the pilot visibly impaired. He was unable to complete a field sobriety test, and later testing revealed his blood alcohol content (BAC) was five times the legal limit for drivers in Colorado.
Fortunately, thanks to the quick thinking of KBJC’s air traffic control team, the intoxicated pilot never left the ground. Rocky Mountain Metro Airport, the third-busiest in the state, averages over 700 daily takeoffs and landings—making constant vigilance by ATC staff critical for safety.
