Zone
Colorado

Crash of a Beechcraft B60 Duke in Hayden: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1979 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 60 Duke
Operator:
Vernon E. Faulconer
Registration:
N6030S
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Denver - Hayden
MSN:
P-328
YOM:
1975
Location:
Hayden-Yampa Valley
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
12800
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a corporate flight from Denver to Hayden-Yampa Valley Airfield, Colorado. On approach, he encountered poor weather conditions due to low ceiling and fog. At an altitude of 7,200 feet, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed in flames 3,3 nm from the runway 10 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain on final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Zero visibility.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 near Santa Fe: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1979 at 1319 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Registration:
N6194X
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Albuquerque - Denver
MSN:
500-1055-44
YOM:
1961
Location:
Santa Fe
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1340
Captain / Total hours on type:
71.00
Circumstances:
While flying in marginal weather conditions, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a mountain shrouded in clouds. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees and subsequent crash in normal cruise due to improper IFR operation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Traffic control personnel issued improper or conflicting instructions,
- Santa Fe weather observation reported mountain tops obscured,
- The controller was not familiar with high terrain in area or MVA.
Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-20 Marquise in Provo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1979 at 1758 LT
Type of aircraft:
Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise
Operator:
Registration:
N200BR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Denver - Provo
MSN:
205
YOM:
1971
Location:
Provo
Utah
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
12833
Captain / Total hours on type:
1785.00
Circumstances:
The pilot started the approach to Provo Municipal Airport by night. Due to limited visibility, he was unable to locate the runway as the lights were off. On final, the twin engine airplane crashed in a swamp located near the airport and was destroyed. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground in traffic pattern-circling due to inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper IFR operation,
- The pilot misjudged altitude,
- Rain,
- Aircraft came to rest in water,
- The runway lights were not activated by the pilot,
- The pilot circled east when the runway was not sited.
Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-10 Marquise in Hays: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1979 at 2125 LT
Type of aircraft:
Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise
Operator:
Turbine Aircraft Parts
Registration:
N208MA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Salina - Denver
MSN:
16
YOM:
1967
Location:
Hays
Kansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
2168
Captain / Total hours on type:
140.00
Circumstances:
En route from Salina to Denver, the pilot informed ATC about an engine failure and elected to divert to the nearest airport. The airplane lost height and eventually stalled and crashed in Hays. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during normal cruise and subsequent stall due to compressor assembly bearing failure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Material failure,
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Complete failure one engine,
- Forward main shaft bearing failed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 25B in Pueblo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1979 at 1102 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 25
Operator:
Chapman Commodities
Registration:
N40BC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Denver - Pueblo
MSN:
25-128
YOM:
1973
Location:
Pueblo
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
9576
Captain / Total hours on type:
5456.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training flight from Denver to Pueblo-Memorial Airport. On final approach, during the last segment, the airplane banked to the left, causing the left wingtip to struck the ground. The crew increased power when control was lost. The airplane overturned and crashed. Two pilots were killed while the third occupant was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled ground loop-swerve upon touchdown due to control interference. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Personnel - production, design: poor/inadequate design,
- Spontaneous and improper action on part of the pilot-in-command,
- Pilot's boot found jammed in rudder pedals,
- Left pedal bent.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 10 in Denver: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1977 at 0452 LT
Type of aircraft:
Dassault Falcon 10
Operator:
Mountain Bell
Registration:
N60MB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Denver - Cheyenne
MSN:
15
YOM:
1974
Location:
Denver
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
16122
Captain / Total hours on type:
800.00
Aircraft flight hours:
1425
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Denver-Stapleton Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 12,000 feet, the crew reported hydraulic problems and was cleared to return. Shortly later, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field located 10 miles northeast of Stapleton Airport. A passenger was seriously injured while four other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent for undetermined reasons.
Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-30 near Rollinsville: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1975 at 1449 LT
Type of aircraft:
Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise
Operator:
Star Aviation
Registration:
N133MA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Denver - Granby
MSN:
506
YOM:
1970
Location:
Rollinsville
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Captain / Total flying hours:
3885
Captain / Total hours on type:
307.00
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a charter flight from Denver to Granby on behalf of Conquest Aero Resources. While cruising in poor weather conditions (low clouds and snow falls), the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck a mountain located near Rollinsville. The wreckage was found two days later, on December 28, and all nine occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Disregard of good operating practice,
- High obstructions,
- Low ceiling,
- Snow,
- Fog.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 12A Electra Junior in Springfield

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1975 at 2106 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 12 Electra Junior
Operator:
Red Eye Express
Registration:
N3486
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Reno – Denver – Atlanta
MSN:
1245
YOM:
1938
Location:
Springfield-Branson
Missouri
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
16052
Captain / Total hours on type:
715.00
Circumstances:
En route from Denver to Atlanta, the crew reported technical problems to ATC and was cleared to divert to Springfield Airport. On approach in poor weather conditions, the crew was unable to locate the runway and decided to initiate a go-around when both engines failed. The airplane stalled, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. All eight occupants were injured, two of them seriously, and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines during a go-around due to a fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- Improper IFR operation,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- High obstructions,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Localizer and glide slope unreliable,
- Fuel exhaustion during climb to top overcast.
Final Report:

Crash of a BAc 111-401AK in South Lake Tahoe

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1975 at 0956 LT
Type of aircraft:
BAc 111
Operator:
Jet Travel
Registration:
N711ST
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
South Lake Tahoe - Denver
MSN:
58
YOM:
1966
Location:
South Lake Tahoe
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
38
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6191
Captain / Total hours on type:
1014.00
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a charter flight from South Lake Tahoe to Denver, carrying customers of the Sahara Tahoe Hotel. The takeoff was initiated in bad weather conditions with low clouds, visibility limited to 200 meters, heavy snow falls and an obscured sky. During the takeoff roll, after a course of 1,610 meters, the left main gear struck a snow berm. Directional control was lost and the airplane veered off runway to the left. The nose gear collapsed and the right wing was partially torn off before the airplane came to rest 66 meters to the left of the runway. All 44 occupants were evacuated, two passengers were slightly injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial takeoff after the pilot-in-command initiated flight in adverse weather conditions and failed to maintain directional control. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misused or failed to use flaps,
- Inadequate snow removal from airport personnel,
- Snow on runway,
- Low ceiling,
- Snow falls,
- Blowing snow,
- Attempted takeoff from partially cleared runway in low visibility due to heavy snow,
- Hit snow berm and lost control.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 60 in Lancaster: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1974 at 2005 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Sabreliner 60
Operator:
Registration:
N920G
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Denver - Lancaster
MSN:
306-74
YOM:
1974
Location:
Lancaster-Fairfield County
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
15105
Captain / Total hours on type:
367.00
Circumstances:
While on a night approach to Lancaster-Fairfield County Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located few miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the crew who disregard of good operating practice. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning,
- High obstructions,
- Non-standard approach in night-instrument conditions,
- Flew into mountain.
Final Report:
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