# NTSB DEN90LA186: Beech D17S, N16M, Englewood, CO, September 14, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 14, 1990, 17:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Englewood, CO - Coordinates: 39.579643, -104.860099 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5796&lon=-104.8601&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 17990 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17990/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA186 ## Probable cause IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT AND INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE VEHICLE DRIVER, WHICH RESULTED IN THEIR FAILURE TO ASSURE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE VEHICLE AND AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: SUNGLARE AND THE PILOT'S RESTRICTED VIEW FROM THE TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS LACK OF VISUAL CUES. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - visual lookout - restricted, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor) - proper assistance - discontinued, ground personnel - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, driver of vehicle (cause) - object - vehicle - clearance - not maintained (cause) ## Analysis THE BEECH D17 STAGGERWING HAD BEEN ON STATIC DISPLAY DRG A PRE-AIRSHOW ACTIVITY. WHEN THE PLT PREPARED TO DEP, TWR CLRD HIM TO TAXI TO RWY 35R & WARNED, 'CAUTION VEHICLES & PERSONNEL ON THE RAMP.' A WING WALKER ESCORTED THE ACFT OUT OF THE PARKING AREA, THEN WALKED AWAY. THE PLT TURNED LEFT & BGN TAXIING TWD THE SUN AT 'WALKING SPEED' IN AN S-TURN FASHION. THE TWR CTLR TOLD A KING AIR PLT TO HOLD FOR THE D17, THEN HIS ATTN WAS DIVERTED TO OTR ARPT OPNS. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE D17'S RGT WING HIT A FIRE TRUCK THAT HAD BEEN STOPPED ON THE TWY; THIS RESULTED IN THE ACFT SWERVING TO THE RGT & THE PROP HITTING THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK DRIVER HAD STOPPED ON THE TWY TO ALLOW A FIREMAN TO TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE PARKED U.S. NAVY'S BLUE ANGELS. WHEN HE LOOKED IN HIS REARVIEW MIRROR, HE SAW THE D17, BUT NOT IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE TWR SUPVR SAID THE ACDNT OCCURRED IN A 'NON-MOVEMENT AREA' & WAS NOT SUBJECT TO GND CTL AS PER LTR OF AGREEMENT BTN THE CTL TWR & THE ARPT AUTHORITY. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N16M), registered now, S/N 6765, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH D17S - Registry model: [Beech D17S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d17s) (registry code 1150538) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6765 - Engines: P&W R-985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jacobson, Chris A. - Destination: BJC, BROOMFIELD, CO - Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 35R, 10,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 663 total, 154 in this make and model, 467 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 8 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F - Observed at: APA ## 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 19900914039679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900914039679A), Sep 14, 1990: Beech D17S, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. Struck fire truck parked on ramp while taxiing for takeoff. Poor over nose visibility and blinding sun were factors ## Other investigations on N16M (1) 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. - [NTSB GAA15CA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA145), Jun 28, 2015: Beech D17S (N16M), Idaho Falls, ID, minor damage. Probable cause: While taxiing as a flight of two, the pilot of the blue Beechcraft became distracted and impacted the red Beechcraft which had stopped. 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.