# NTSB DEN85FA240: Aero Commander 680FL, N45724, Fort Collins, CO, September 12, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 12, 1985, 00:20 local (06:20 UTC)
- Place: Fort Collins, CO
- Coordinates: 40.590236, -105.129676 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5902&lon=-105.1297&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16558
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FA240
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16558/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA240

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - light condition - dark night
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - weather condition - turbulence
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - reason for occurrence undetermined

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS OPERATING HIS ACFT UNDER THE RULES OF 14 CFR 135, I.E., A SCHEDULED DOMESTIC CARGO FLT. HE MADE A NORMAL DEPARTURE AND CLIMB EN ROUTE TO SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. NORMAL COMMUNICATIONS AND RADAR FLT FOLLOWING WAS ESTABLISHED WITH DENVER ARTCC. APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES WEST OF FORT COLLINS, THE ACFT SUDDENLY DISAPPEARED OFF OF RADAR AND VOICE CONTACT WITH THE PILOT WAS LOST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N45724](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45724-1989-01-30), registration cancelled 1989-01-30, S/N 680FL12912 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 680FL
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 680FL](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-680fl) (registry code 0141608) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 680FL1291Z
- Airframe hours: 9535
- Engines: LYCOMING IGSO-540-B1A 380 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Inter American Leasing Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 9, 1985, 96 hours before
- Departed: FCL, FORT COLLINS, CO
- Destination: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,554 total, 43 in this make and model, 3,426 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Observed at: FCL, 8 nm away

## 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 19850912048519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850912048519A), Sep 12, 1985: Gulstm 680FL, Fort Collins, CO, Destroyed. Lost control during climb in a SIGMET area. Impacted mountain ridge and burned. Engines destroyed on impact.

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.