# NTSB DEN85FA103: Gulfstream 681, N772CB, Calhan, CO, March 29, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 28, 1985, 19:30 local (Mar 29, 1985, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Calhan, CO
- Coordinates: 39.029071, -104.290397 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0291&lon=-104.2904&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16533
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FA103
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16533/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA103

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - inadequate transition/upgrade training, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - night (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - normal
  - airspeed - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - open field (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING A XCOUNTRY FLT FROM WI TO CA AND RETURN, THE NONINST, LOW EXPERIENCED PVT PLT, FLEW INTO IMC CONDITIONS. THE ACFT IMPACTED FLAT SNOW-COVERED GRD, DESTROYING THE ACFT AND FATALLY INJURING HIS PAX.  EXAM OF WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-ACC MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ITS PWR PLANTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N772CB (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Gulfstream 681
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 6050
- Airframe hours: 4500
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331-1151K 575 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, May 1, 1984, 20 hours before
- Departed: VAN NUYS, CA
- Destination: DEN, DENVER, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 411 total, 376 in this make and model, 37 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 7 °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 19850328010059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850328010059A), Mar 28, 1985: Gulstm 681, Calhan, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Impacted ground at a high rate of speed slightly nose low. VFR pilot in IFR weather conditions.

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.