CEN17LA123

NTSB accident investigation · Beech C 99 · Durango, CO · January 24, 2017

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
January 23, 2017, 19:00 local (Jan 24, 2017, 02:00 UTC)
Place
Durango, CO
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N216CSBeech C 99
Defining event
Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Night
Status
Completed · report August 3, 2020
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20170123001549I
Case key
94841

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot's inability to maintain directional control during takeoff in crosswind conditions on a contaminated runway, which resulted in a runway excursion.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotBeech C-99: 3 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surfaceEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationBeech C-99: 1 caseAll aircraft: 219 casesProbable cause
Wind: crosswindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcomeBeech C-99: 2 casesAll aircraft: 1,008 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The flight crew was departing the airport in winter weather conditions. The flight crew taxied to the runway and waited as another regional jet landed and cleared the runway. The captain of that jet reported on the common traffic advisory frequency that the braking action was nil and cautioned the accident flight crew to be careful because the runway was slick. The pilot flying reported that, as they taxied onto the runway, the wind was 40° right of runway heading at 10 kts with no gusts and the runway was slick. As the airplane was on the takeoff roll passing 60 kts, the pilot noticed a rising crosswind but maintained centerline. When the airplane was passing 80 kts, the flight crew was unable to maintain the airplane's track on the centerline with full right aileron deflection. The pilot attempted to rotate and lift off, but the airplane went into deep snow on the side of the runway. The pilot then reduced power to idle before going off the left side of the runway; the nose wheel collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the nose of the airplane and both engines. The flight crew reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

On January 23, 2017, about 1900 mountain standard time, a Beechcraft C99, N216CS, was substantially damaged when it departed the runway during takeoff at Durango La-Plata County Airport (DRO), Durango, Colorado. The two pilots on board were not injured. The airplane was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 cargo flight. The flight crew had landed an hour earlier and while they waited for cargo to be loaded and their block time out they watched as trucks worked on the runway and taxiways to remove the snow. They listened to airport weather, deiced the airplane, and taxied to the runway for takeoff. The flight crew waited as another regional jet landed and cleared the runway. The captain of that jet reported on the common traffic advisory frequency that the braking action was nil and cautioned the accident flight crew to be careful as the runway was slick. As the flight crew taxied onto the runway, the pilot flying reported the wind was 40 degrees right of runway heading at 10 knots with no gusts and the runway was slick. On takeoff roll passing 60 kts, the pilot noticed a rising crosswind but was able to maintain centerline. Passing 80 kts the flight crew lost the ability to maintain centerline with full right aileron deflection. The pilot attempted to rotate and lift off but the airplane went into deep snow on the side of the runway. The pilot then reduced power to idle before going off the runway. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and the nose wheel collapsed. The airplane came to rest about 66 feet off the left side of runway 21 and 2,800 ft from the departure end. Postaccident examination of the airplane showed aft crushing to the nose radome and skin wrinkling on the underside of the fuselage around the nose landing gear well. Both engines sustained damage beyond repair. The flight crew reported no preimpact anomalies that contributed to the accident. A NOTAM issued at 1842, reported the center 100 ft of the runway had been plowed and broom swept and that the entire runway surface was covered with 1/8 in. dry snow.

Aircraft

Registration
N216CS
Reported as
Beech C 99 (NO SERIES)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
U-216
Built
1983
Airframe hours
26,579.5
Engines
Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-36, 715 horsepower, turbo propPratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-36, 715 horsepower, turbo prop
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 135
Operator
Alpine Air Inc
Registered owner
Alpine Aviation Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
AAIP · December 28, 2016
Departed
DRO · Durango, CO
Destination
DEN · Denver, CO
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
DRO · Durango-La Plata County, runway 21, 9,201 × 150 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Onboard weather, Stall warning system

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
35
Injuries
None
Certificates
Military, Flight instructor, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane, Helicopter
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
August 29, 2016
Seat
Left
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
3,430 total · 158 in this make and model · 2,498 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 60 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Role
Co-pilot
Age
33
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
January 7, 2017
Seat
Right
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
1,209 total · 47 in this make and model · 271 as pilot in command · 47 in the last 90 days · 47 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Night
Wind
260° at 13 knots
Lowest ceiling
800 ft overcast
Temperature
30 °F, dew point 28 °F
Altimeter
29.64 inHg
Observed at
KDRO, 1 nm away

Docket · 11

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 2, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 6.8 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N216CS · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.