# NTSB DEN84FA119: Beech 65-A90, N114CW, Rangely, CO, March 28, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 28, 1984, 16:48 local (23:48 UTC)
- Place: Rangely, CO
- Coordinates: 40.080051, -108.769393 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0801&lon=-108.7694&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16206
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA119
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16206/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA119

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - refueling - improper (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - water (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF ON A LEFT DOWNWIND DEPARTURE, A POWER LOSS ON BOTH ENGINES OCCURRED. BOTH MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED DURING A FORCED LANDING IN A MUDDY SAGEBRUSH COVERED FIELD. THE PLT HAD REFUELED THE ACFT & HAD FAILED TO DRAIN THE FUEL STORAGE TANK & ACFT FUEL TANKS BEFORE TAKEOFF. FUEL THAT WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED IT WAS A MIXTURE OF FUEL, WATER & PARTICLES THAT RESEMBLED RUST. FUEL EXTRACTED FROM THE STORAGE TANK INTO A 5 GAL BUCKET CONTAINED RUST PARTICLES, & WHEN MEASURED, CONTAINED 12 INCHES OF WATER & 1 INCH OF FUEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N114CW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N114CW-1984-07-24), registration cancelled 1984-07-24, S/N LJ-114 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 65-A90
- Registry model: [Beech 65-A90](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-65-a90) (registry code 1152908) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LJ-114
- Airframe hours: 7015
- Engines: P&W PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Crc Colorado Well, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 16, 1984, 15 hours before
- Destination: DEN, DENVER, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 4V0, Rangeley, runway 24, 4,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 10,850 total, 270 in this make and model, 10,600 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F

## 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 19840328009039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840328009039A), Mar 28, 1984: Beech 65A90, Rangely, CO, Substantial damage. Both engines quit on takeoff climb. Crash landed in rough terrain. Had fueled from tank containing water and rust.

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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