# NTSB DEN88FA044: Swearingen SA-26AT, N4468M, Telluride, CO, December 30, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 29, 1987, 17:07 local (Dec 30, 1987, 00:07 UTC)
- Place: Telluride, CO
- Coordinates: 37.939476, -107.900787 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9395&lon=-107.9008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 4 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17346
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88FA044
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17346/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88FA044

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - reversers - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - nosewheel steering - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted landing - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

DURING A VISUAL APCH, THE PLT SAID HE ENCOUNTERED 2000 FPM DOWNDRAFTS. THE PLT STATED HE ADDED POWER AND EXECUTED A NORMAL APCH AT 120 KTS, COMPENSATING FOR DOWNDRAFTS/CROSSWINDS. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE PLT SAID HE DID NOT GET A BETA LIGHT ON THE RIGHT ENG. HE STATED HE BROUGHT THE PWR LEVERS 'BEHIND THE GATE INTO REVERSE.' THE ACFT DRIFTED LEFT. THE PLT SAID HE CORRECTED WITH BRAKES AND NOSEWHEEL STEERING. HE APPLIED TAKEOFF POWER AND THE ACFT VEERED RIGHT, AND RAN OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK AND THEN TREES. THREE TIRE SKID MARKS WERE OBSERVED ONTHE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY. A PLT-WITNESS SAID WINDS WERE GUSTING 22-25 KTS, VARIABLE FROM 130-220 DEGREES. HE SAID THE ACFT LANDED FAST AND LONG. EXAM OF THE ENGINES AND PROPS REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION. THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS PROP REVERSE NOT BE USED ON ICY RWY OR WHEN BETA LIGHT ON ONE ENGINE DOES NOT ILLUMINATE. THE ACFT MANUFACTURER ADVISES THAT NOSEWHEEL STEERING SHOULD NOT BE USED AT SPEEDS BELOW 40 KNOTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4468M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4468M-2012-12-11), registration cancelled 2012-12-11, S/N T26-119 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA-26AT
- Registry model: [Swearingen SA-26AT](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa-26at) (registry code 8780112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T26-119
- Engines: GARRETT TPE331-1-151G 665 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Chemical Financial Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 11R, BRENHAM, TX
- Destination: TEX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TEX, Telluride Regional, runway 27, 7,300 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,344 total, 200 in this make and model, 34 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 200° at 10 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MTJ, 34 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 19871229082229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871229082229A), Dec 29, 1987: Swrngn SA26AT, Telluride, CO, Substantial damage. Accident under re-investigation by NTSB to determine probable cause.

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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