# NTSB DEN89LA058: Piper PA-31T, N82290, Craig, CO, January 6, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 6, 1989, 13:07 local (20:07 UTC)
- Place: Craig, CO
- Coordinates: 40.5205, -107.549201 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5205&lon=-107.5492&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 25, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17661
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17661/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA058

## Probable cause

UNSUITABLE TERRAIN (RUNWAY CONDITION) SELECTED BY THE PILOT.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, INADEQUATE REMOVAL OF SNOW FROM THE RUNWAY BY AIRPORT PERSONNEL, UNEVEN SNOW COVERED RUNWAY, LACK OF VISUAL PERCEPTION BY THE PILOT, AND SNOWBANKS BESIDE THE RUNWAY.

## 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
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - airport snow removal - inadequate, airport personnel (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT REQUESTED THE SNOW COVERED RWY BE REPLOWED BEFORE HE TOOK OFF. HE RPRTD THAT AFTERWARD, HE SAW NO SNOW RIDGES OR EVIDENCE OF UNEVEN PLOWING & CONCLUDED THE 'RUNWAY DEMARCATION WAS ADEQUATE FOR TAKEOFF.'  HE SAID THAT DRG TAKEOFF, AT ABOUT 80 KTS, HE FELT THE LEFT GEAR DRAG AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SWERVE LEFT.  HE CORRECTED WITH RUDDER & THE AIRPLANE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE RWY.  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE & IT CONTINUED INTO A SNOWBANK & WAS DAMAGED. RPRTDLY, THE ACFT SWERVED AFTER ENCOUNTERING A 'SNOWRIDGE' LEFT BY THE SNOWPLOW. NO PRE-ACDNT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS RPRTD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N82290](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N82290-2006-07-18), registration cancelled 2006-07-18, S/N 31T-7820058, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t) (registry code 7103124) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31T-7820058
- Airframe hours: 2450
- Engines: P&W PT6A-28 620 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Cummins Power Inc, doing business as Turbowest
- Registered owner: Cummins Power, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 11, 1988, 60 hours before
- Departed: CAG
- Destination: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CAG, Craig-Moffat, runway 25, 5,600 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 9,555 total, 2,300 in this make and model, 9,319 as pilot in command, 78 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 5 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft
- Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19890106000369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890106000369A), Jan 6, 1989: Piper PA31T, Craig, CO, Substantial damage. One wheel entered a snow ridge on runway on takeoff lost control skidded into snowbank. Snowplow left snow ridge.

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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