DEN89FA024

NTSB accident investigation · Canadair CL-600-1A11 · Aspen, CO · October 29, 1988

Accident · Minor injuriesField investigationFinal report
Date
October 29, 1988, 13:55 local (20:55 UTC)
Place
Aspen, CO
Injuries
2 minor, 5 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N909MGCanadair CL-600-1A11
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 31, 1990
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19881029048719A
Case key
17569

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.

The pic's failure to follow approved procedures and directives; the pic's failure to attain/maintain direction control of the airplane, the pic's failure to abort the takeoff in a timely manner; and the pic's failure to follow proper aborted takeoff procedures.

Analysis

The plt used the nosewheel steering system (nwss) while taxiing fm the FBO to the rwy. He back-taxied down the rwy & made a 180 deg turn, then without stopping, he began the takeoff roll. There were no rprtd malfunctions of the nwss before commencing the takeoff. The plt stated he had difficulty in steering the acft on the takeoff roll. As the engs spooled up, the acft tracked to the rgt of the rwy centerline. Subsequently, as he corrected with the nwss, the acft veered left, then right, as it was accelerating. The plt initiated abort procedures before reaching 80 KTS, but he was unable to regain drctnl ctl. He stated he retarded the thrust levers to idle, applied max braking & selected reverse thrust, but the acft accelerated when the engs spooled up without activation of the thrust reversers. He shut down the engs, but the acft hit 3 parked acft before stopping. The acft was equipped with an early model (dowty rotol) nwss. Post-acdnt exams of the nwss & thrust reversers revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterTakeoff - roll/run
Proper alignment - not attainedPilot in commandFactor
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Ground loop/swerve - inadvertentPilot in commandCause
Aborted takeoff - delayedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectTakeoff - aborted
Object - aircraft parked/standingFactor

Aircraft

Registration
N909MG
Reported as
Canadair CL-600-1A11 (CL-600-1A1)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1010
Airframe hours
1,779
Engine
Lycoming ALF-502-L2, 7,500 lbs thrust, turbo fan
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 135
Operator
Avjet, doing business as Avjet Corporation
Registered owner
Griffin Records, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Last inspection
100 hour · September 7, 1988 · 86 hours before
Departed
ASE
Destination
BUR · Burbank, CA
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
ASE · Aspen/Pitkin County, runway 33, 7,003 × 100 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
39
Certificates
Commercial, 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
7,500 total · 750 in this make and model · 7,000 as pilot in command · 120 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
10° at 6 knots
Visibility
30 statute miles
Temperature
59 °F, dew point 25 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
ASE

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.