# NTSB DEN04FA027: Swearingen SA226-TC, N60U, Denver, CO, December 3, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: December 3, 2003, 05:55 local (12:55 UTC) - Place: Denver, CO - Coordinates: 39.861389, -104.661392 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8614&lon=-104.6614&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58417 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04FA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58417/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04FA027 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) the failure of the pilot of the taxiing aircraft to maintain clearance and adequate visual lookout for the stopped aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - to takeoff - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - to takeoff - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) The accident involved 2 Swearingen airplanes. The pilot of the first airplane reported that he had taxied north for departure. There were several company aircraft in front of him in line for departure so he came to a complete stop. The pilot of the second airplane reported that he was also taxiing north for departure. He had seen the lights from an aircraft holding short of runway 17R; however, he did not see the lights of the first airplane until it was too late. The pilot of the second airplane reported he applied full brakes and used reverse thrust but was unable to avoid hitting the first airplane. Both airplanes were substantially damaged. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On December 3, 2003, at approximately 0555 mountain standard time, a Swearingen SA227-AC, N340AE, and a Swearingen SA226-TC, N60U, both operated by Key Lime, Inc., were substantially damaged when they collided during night taxi at Denver International Airport, Denver, Colorado. Neither the airline transport pilot in N60U, nor the commercial pilot in N340AE, were injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plans had been filed for the non-scheduled domestic cargo flights being operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 135. Both flights were originating at the time of the accident. The pilot of N340AE reported that he had taxied north on taxiway Mike (M) to the "M10" intersection. There were several company aircraft in front of him in line for runway 17R. He came to a complete stop behind a Cessna 404, remaining partially on the M taxiway. The pilot of N60U reported that he was taxiing north on the M taxiway, en route to runway 8 for departure. He had seen the lights from an aircraft holding short of runway 17R; however, he did not see the lights of N340AE until it was too late. The pilot of N60U reported he applied full brakes and used reverse thrust but was unable to avoid hitting N340AE. Both airplanes were examined at the scene. N340AE, was turned to the right during the collision, entangling its empennage with N60U's empennage. The outer 8 feet of N60U's right wing was severed. The outboard 2 feet of the right propeller's blades showed chordwise scratches, torsional bends, and leading edge gouges and chips. The airplane's empennage was crushed and bent. The bottom empennage of N340AE was scraped and torn. The airplane's left wing tip was bent upward, and showed skin wrinkles. An 8-foot long, 2-foot wide section of the left outboard wing's trailing edge was torn out. The airplane's empennage was crushed and bent. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N60U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60U-2006-10-31), registration cancelled 2006-10-31, S/N TC232 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Swearingen SA226-TC - Registry model: [Swearingen SA226TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa226tc) (registry code 8780404) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TC-323 - Airframe hours: 25932 - Engines: Aero Engines TPE-331 840 horsepower turbo prop; Honeywell TPE-331 840 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Key Lime - Registered owner: E.D.B. Air Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 23, 2003, 10 hours before - Departed: DEN, Denver, CO - Destination: GCK, Garden City, KS - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: DEN, Denver International Airport ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N340AE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N340AE-2010-07-28), registration cancelled 2010-07-28, S/N AC-510, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Swearingen SA227-AC - Registry model: [Swearingen SA227-AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa227-ac) (registry code 8780603) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (registry code 01514, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AC-510 - Airframe hours: 29615 - Engines: Honeywell TPE-331 1000 horsepower turbo prop; Honeywell TPR-331 1000 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Key Lime - Registered owner: GAS Wilson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 21, 2003, 58 hours before - Departed: DEN, Denver, CO - Destination: DRO, Durango, CO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: DEN, Denver International Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N60U; age 49; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 8, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 13,285 total, 168 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N340AE; age 26; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review October 14, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 2,200 total, 2,200 as pilot in command, 209 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 170° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: DEN, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20031203035541A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031203035541A), Dec 3, 2003: Swrngn SA226TC, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft N60U was taxiing north on taxiway "m" at Denver, Colorado (den) airport and ran into aircraft N340AE which had stopped on taxiway "m" at "M-10"… - [Accident 20031203036709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031203036709A), Dec 3, 2003: Swrngn SA227AC, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft N340AE was stopped on taxiway "m" at the "M-10" intersection, waiting his turn for take off on runway 17R at Denver International Airport (den)… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.