# NTSB DEN87FA066: Rockwell 680FL, N4581E, Basalt, CO, March 13, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 12, 1987, 18:39 local (Mar 13, 1987, 01:39 UTC)
- Place: Basalt, CO
- Coordinates: 39.360897, -107.020828 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3609&lon=-107.0208&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 2, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17099
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87FA066
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17099/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87FA066

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - reduced, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - altitude - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - residence
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

N4581E WAS OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR 135 CARRYING CARGO. THE PLT STATED THAT HE DEPARTED VFR AND HAD '7 TO 10' MI VIS AT THE ACDT SITE. WITNESSES AT AND NEAR THE ACDT SITE STATED THAT HEAVY SNOW WAS FALLING AT THE TIME OF THE ACDT AND THE VIS WAS 1 MI OR LESS. THE ACFT STRUCK A 2 STORY DUPLEX IN A LT WING LOW ATTITUDE, 18 FT AGL. POST CRASH EXAM OF THE ACFT AND ENGINES REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECH MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE PLT HAD BEEN GROUNDED FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACDT DUE TO MED PROBLEMS. THERE WAS NO RECORD THAT INDICATED THE PLT HAD BEEN ROUTE CHECKED FOR OPS AT ASPEN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4581E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4581E-2012-12-07), registration cancelled 2012-12-07, S/N 1672-134, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Rockwell 680FL
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 680FL](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-680fl) (registry code 0141608) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IGSO-540-B1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-igso-540-b1a) (registry code 41535, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1672134
- Airframe hours: 4267
- Engines: LYCOMING IGSO-540-B1A 380 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Energy Air Charters Of Mt, doing business as Air Parcel
- Registered owner: Harry B Combs, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 20, 1987, 19 hours before
- Departed: ASE, ASPEN, CO
- Destination: DEN, DENVER, CO
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,424 total, 104 in this make and model, 4,091 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ASE, 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 19870312006299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870312006299A), Mar 12, 1987: Gulstm 680FL, Basalt, CO, Destroyed. Pilot reported right engine failure. Aircraft crashed and burned after hitting duplex.

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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