# NTSB DEN88FA090: Beech A36, N5WW, Colorado Spring, CO, April 3, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 3, 1988, 15:44 local (21:44 UTC)
- Place: Colorado Spring, CO
- Coordinates: 38.80923, -104.70996 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8092&lon=-104.7100&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 21, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17357
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88FA090
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17357/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88FA090

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - utility pole
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - mixture - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (cause)
  - insufficient standards/requirements,airman, faa(organization)
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER TAKEOFF THE ACFT FAILED TO CLIMB SUFFICIENTLY TO CLEAR A UTILITY POLE ONE-HALF MILE OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY.  THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE POLE AND CRASHED IN A RESIDENTIAL STREET.  THE PLT AND THREE PAX WERE FATALLY INJURED AND THE ACFT WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE.  AVAILABLE INFORMATION INDICATES THAT POWER REQUIRED WAS GREATER THAN POWER AVAILABLE FOR TAKEOFF AT NEAR MAX GROSS WT FROM THE HIGH ALTITUDE, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE ARPT, AND THE PLT WAS INEXPERIENCED IN HIGH ALTITUDE ARPT OPERATIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5WW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5WW-1989-08-18), registration cancelled 1989-08-18, S/N E207 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E207
- Airframe hours: 5083
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Welty-Way Heliport, Inc,
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 8, 1988
- Destination: CID, CEDAR RAPIDS, IA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: COS, Colorado Springs, runway 35, 11,021 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 668 total, 242 in this make and model, 530 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: COS, 2 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 19880403012399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880403012399A), Apr 3, 1988: Beech A36, Colorado Spring, CO, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Struck utility pole on climbout. Made early liftoff.

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.