# NTSB DEN89FA024: Canadair CL-600-1A11, N909MG, Aspen, CO, October 29, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 29, 1988, 13:55 local (20:55 UTC)
- Place: Aspen, CO
- Location: 39.2219° N, 106.8682° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ASPEN-PITKIN COUNTY/SARDY FLD (ASE), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2219&lon=-106.8682&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17569
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89FA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17569/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89FA024

## Probable cause

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

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted
  - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: N909MG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CANADAIR CL-600-1A11 (CL-600-1A1)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1010
- Airframe hours: 1779
- Engines: LYCOMING ALF-502-L2 7500 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.

- Pilot; age 39; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19881029048719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881029048719A), Oct 29, 1988: Semco CHALLENGER, Aspen, CO, Substantial damage. Hurried takeoff. Lost directional control. Used reverse thrust improperly veered off runway into parked aircraft.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.