# NTSB DEN85LA041: Gulfstream Aerocommander 695, N980DW, Cortez, CO, December 13, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 13, 1984, 10:05 local (17:05 UTC)
- Place: Cortez, CO
- Coordinates: 37.350273, -108.570388 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3503&lon=-108.5704&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16608
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LA041
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16608/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA041

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - inattentive, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- Complete gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - overload (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACCIDENT ACFT WAS THE FIRST TO USE THE RWY SINCE IT WAS SCRAPED BY THE SNOW PLOW EARLIER IN THE DAY. A COMMERCIAL PLT THAT OPERATES AT THE ARPT SAID ABOUT 2-3 INCHES OF SNOW HAD ACCUMULATED ON THE RWY SINCE IT WAS CLEARED. THE PLT OF THE ACCIDENT ACFT SAID HE BACK-TAXIED ON THE RWY FOR TAKEOFF. HE BELIEVES ONE OF THE TIRES GOT IN A TAXI-MADE RUT AND THE OTHER WAS IN THE SLUSH FOR TAKEOFF. AT ABOUT 80 KTS IAS DURING TAKEOFF ROLL THE ACFT SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT ACCORDING TO THE PLT. THE POWER WAS NORMAL SO SLUSH DRAG WAS ASSUMED TO BE THE CAUSE. THE PLT SAID THAT BEFORE CORRECTIVE ACTION COULD TAKE EFFECT THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A SNOW BANK. A COMMERCIAL ACFT OPERATOR AT THE ARPT SAID THATHE DROVE ALONG THE TRACKS MADE BY THE ACFT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. HE SAID IT APPEARED TO HIM THAT THE SNOW TRACKS DEPARTED THE CENTER OF THE RWY FOR QUITE A WAYS BEFORE HITTING THE SNOWBANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N980DW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GULFSTREAM AEROCOMMANDER 695 (AEROCOMMAN)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 95074
- Airframe hours: 1093
- Engines: Airesearch TPE33110501X 575 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Nielson'S Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 14, 1984, 13 hours before
- Departed: CEZ, CORTEZ, CO
- Destination: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CEZ, Cortez, runway 3, 7,205 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,800 total, 276 in this make and model, 7,700 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CEZ

## 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 19841213066279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841213066279A), Dec 13, 1984: Gulstm 695, Cortez, CO, Substantial damage. Lost control on a attempted take off from a snow and slush covered runway. Ran off the runway into a snowbank.

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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