# NTSB DCA79AA003: Dehavilland DHC-6, N25RM, Steamboat Spgs, CO, December 4, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 4, 1978
- Place: Steamboat Spgs, CO · STEAMBOAT SPGS, CO
- Location: 40.4756° N, 106.8229° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Steamboat Springs, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4756&lon=-106.8229&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 14 serious, 6 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1979
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79651
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA79AA003
- Board report AAR7906 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR7906.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA79AA003

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3970   78/12/4 NR.STEAMBOAT SPGS,CO  DEHAVILLAND DHC-6   CR-  1  1  0  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1945                    N25RM               PX-  1 13  6  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      29, 7340 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG S-D        3904 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         STEAMBOAT SPGS,CO            DENVER,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING SNOW                                              26
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          270                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- WX EXCEEDED ACFT CAPABILITY TO MAINTAIN FLT.HIT MTN 10530FT MSL.RECOVERY DATE 12/5/78.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N25RM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25RM-1978-12-04), registration cancelled 1978-12-04, S/N 387 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC-6
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-6-twin-otter) (registry code 2802606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19781204044799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781204044799A), Dec 4, 1978: Dhav DHC6300, Steamboat Sprin, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Weather exceeded aircraft capability to maintain flight hit mountain 10530FT MSL.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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