DCA98MA002

The airplane departed under visual flight rules (VFR) for a flight over mountainous terrain. It was tracked by radar from the departure area to the accident site. While climbing at the normal rate of climb to 15,400 feet, the airplane abruptly disappeared from radar. The wreckage was located among pine trees and exhibited evidence of a steep flightpath angle and damage consistent with a stall/spin event. Investigation revealed no indication of airframe or flight control anomalies, and the powerplant and propeller damage was consistent with engine operation at moderate to high power. Evidence indicated that the airplane was free of airframe ice at impact. Postaccident calculations indicate that the airplane was near the maximum certificated gross weight and aft center of gravity limit. The pilot did not maintain instrument flying currency and reportedly avoided instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Evidence indicated that the pilot did not use oxygen, as required (when flying above 12,000 feet). Ground observations and satellite and Doppler radar imagery indicated widespread cloudiness over the mountains west of Montrose on the day of the accident. Satellite data showed variable cloud tops higher than the airplane's flight altitude in the vicinity of the accident. The radar plot of the aircraft during the climb above 10,000 feet indicated course changes from the southwest to the northwest, back to the southwest and then a sharp turn to the right just prior to the rapid descent.

History of flight

On October 8, 1997, at 0723 mountain daylight time, N12022, a Cessna 208B, departed controlled flight and collided with terrain at the 9,900 foot level on the Uncompahgre Plateau, about 18 nautical miles (nm) southwest of Montrose, Colorado. The pilot and all eight passengers were killed. The flight was an on-demand air charter operated by the Department of the Interior (DOI) under 14 CFR Part 135. The flight was chartered to transport eight employees of the Bureau of Reclamation from Montrose, Colorado, to Page, Arizona. The registered owner of the airplane was Scenic Airlines Inc., of North Las Vegas, Nevada.

The pilot operated the first leg of the roundtrip charter flight from Page, Arizona, to Montrose, Colorado, on October 6, 1997. The flight was uneventful, and the pilot departed the airport about 1800 for a local motel. The return flight was scheduled to depart Montrose at 1700 on October 7. The pilot called the Scenic Airlines scheduler about 1200 and stated his concern about the passage of a cold front and the presence of less-than-VFR weather along the route of flight. He called back about 1500 and, after discussion, delayed the return trip until 0700 the following day, October 8. The pilot returned to the motel for a second night. On the morning of the accident flight, the pilot and passengers were at the airport about 0630.

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed upon takeoff. The flight departed from runway 17 of Montrose Regional Airport (elevation 5,759 feet msl) on a company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan about 0705.

About 0710, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) radar National Track Analysis Program (NTAP) database target squawking VFR transponder code 1200 was recorded on a track from the Montrose area to the accident site. During the climb from 10,000 feet, the target airplane's course changed from southwest to northwest, back to southwest, and then made a sharp turn to the right. Climb performance was similar to data provided in the Pilot's Operating Handbook. The recorded radar information indicated that the target airplane climbed to a peak altitude of 15,400 msl then disappeared from radar. No emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was received. The airplane was reported overdue and a ground search party located the airplane wreckage about 50 hours later in the vicinity of the last recorded radar position. The wreckage was situated among 60-foot-high pine trees with evidence of a steep flight path angle (about -65 degrees), an approximate flat pitch attitude, and little indication of forward speed. There was a fuel spill in the surrounding area but no evidence of fire, either postcrash or in flight. All of the airplane occupants were located within the airplane fuselage.

The accident occurred during daylight hours at 38 degrees, 19 minutes, 23.8 seconds North latitude, and 108 degrees, 12 minutes, 43.6 seconds West longitude.

Damage to the aircraft

Impact forces destroyed the airplane. The estimated value of the airplane was about $1.2 million.

Other damage

The crash site was unimproved range land. Although the immediate area received some ecological damage from spilled aviation fuel, overall damage was minimal.

Personnel information

The male pilot, age 63, possessed an FAA Airline Transport Pilot certificate issued in 1994. Ratings and limitations were: Airplane Multiengine Land, Commercial Privileges, Airplane Single-Engine Land. No type ratings were listed. His FAA First Class Medical Certificate, dated December 30, 1996, contained the limitation "must have available glasses for near vision."

The pilot was qualified to fly the Cessna 208B on May 9, 1995. Prior to that qualification, he was assigned as a second-in-command pilot on Scenic Airlines de Havilland Twin Otter airplanes. The pilot's most recent Part 135 proficiency check was administered April 18-22, 1997, in a Cessna 207. The handwritten statement "instrument competency demonstrated" appeared on FAA Form 8410-3, "Airman Competency/Proficiency Check." His most recent Part 135 line check was administered in a Cessna 208B on May 30, 1997.

The pilot's primary employment was to fly sightseeing trips in and around the Grand Canyon area of Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. Scenic Airlines records indicate the pilot had logged 12,900 hours of total flying time. Examination of the pilot's personal logbooks showed a total of 19.7 hours of flight in actual instrument conditions. This instrument experience was accumulated between 1987 and 1994. The pilot was not qualified to serve as a pilot in command of a 14 CFR 135 operation under instrument flight rules (IFR). He did not maintain instrument flying currency under 14 CFR 61.57, "Recent flight experience: Pilot in command." Colleagues described the pilot as one who had no intention of entering instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) at any time.

Aircraft information

The Cessna 208B, serial number 208B0432, was registered as N12022 to Scenic Airlines on August 17, 1995. The airplane was configured with nine passenger seats in addition to the pilot and copilot seats. On the accident flight, the copilot seat and the passenger seat immediately behind the pilot were not occupied.

Before the accident flight, the airplane total time and cycles were 2,598.5 hours/3,680 cycles. The airplane was equipped with a Pratt and Whitney PT6A-114A turbopropeller engine rated at 675 horsepower and a McCauley 3GFR34C703, three-bladed, constant-speed, full-feathering propeller. The engine, serial number 19315, and the propeller assembly had the same time and cycle history as the airframe. The airplane complied with all applicable airworthiness inspections and FAA airworthiness directives. There were no unresolved or recent, pertinent maintenance discrepancies.

The maximum certificated gross weight of the Cessna 208B is 8,750 pounds. The estimated takeoff weight of the accident flight was 8,874.5 pounds. The estimated ramp fuel load prior to the accident flight was 1,566 pounds of Jet A-1 fuel. Airplane operating manual climb charts indicate fuel required to climb to 15,400 feet is about 65 pounds. The certificated aft center of gravity (cg) limit is 204.35 inches aft of the datum. The estimated takeoff cg was 203.84 inches, within an area characterized by a Note in the operating manual which states, "...area should be used only if an accurate cg determination has been obtained for that loading."

The airplane was equipped with a supplemental oxygen system. The oxygen bottle contents were under pressure and discharged during the investigation. Postcrash inspection revealed one breathing mask in the airplane stowed near the right, front passenger entry door.

Meteorological information

Scenic Airlines flight-following personnel reported that the pilot communicated with them via telephone in the morning hours before the accident flight regarding the weather. They did not note or recall the specific details of that conversation. FAA records do not indicate that the pilot of N12022 received a weather briefing from an FAA facility on the morning of the accident flight.

The Surface Analysis chart prepared by the National Weather Service for 0600 October 8 showed a cold front extending through eastern Colorado, curving southwestward through southeastern New Mexico, and extending into northern Mexico. The chart also indicated a weak center of high pressure located over north central Arizona.

The Aviation Area Forecast for the Rocky Mountain Area, issued by the Aviation Weather Center at Kansas City, Missouri, and valid for Colorado during the accident period, indicated:

Mountains and west...scattered-broken 9,000 feet broken 11,000 feet top flight level 24,000 feet with occasional visibility 3-5 miles mist and widely scattered light rain showers. 1200 scattered 12,000 feet. Outlook... visual flig