# NTSB DEN91FA005: Beech P35, N1568S, Aurora, CO, October 8, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 7, 1990, 20:03 local (Oct 8, 1990, 02:03 UTC)
- Place: Aurora, CO
- Coordinates: 39.639595, -104.989532 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6396&lon=-104.9895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18004
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91FA005
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18004/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91FA005

## Probable cause

INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS WERE HIS DECISION TO DISREGARD IN-FLIGHT WEATHER ADVISORIES, CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER, AND ICING CONDITIONS AND THE FLIGHT INTO THE KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER.

## Analysis

THE PILOT OBTAINED TWO WEATHER BRIEFING THAT INCLUDED FORECAST ICING CONDITIONS. THE FLIGHT PROCEEDED UNEVENTFULLY UNTIL IT ARRIVED IN THE VICINITY OF THE KIOWA VORTAC, NEAR DENVER. APPROACH CONTROL ADVISED THE PILOT OF TWO PIREPS: LIGHT TO MODERATE RIME ICING, AND MODERATE TO SEVERE RIME ICING, REPORTED BY SEVERAL AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE. THE PILOT REPORTED ACCUMULATING ICE SHORTLY THEREAFTER, AND REQUESTED AN ILS APPROACH TO DENVER'S STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. WHILE BEING VECTORED, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN SEVERAL ASSIGNED ALTITUDES. HE WAS VECTORED TOWARDS BUCKLEY ANG BASE, BUT CRASHED ABOUT ONE MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE SHERIFF REPORTED AT LEAST TWO INCHES OF RIME ICE ON THE LEADING EDGES OF THE WINGS. RUDDERVATOR, AND ANTENNAE. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT CERTIFIED FOR FLIGHT INTO ICING CONDITIONS, NOR WAS IT EQUIPPED WITH ANY DEICING EQUIPMENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, circling (ifr)
  - in-flight weather advisories - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1568S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1568S-1992-11-09), registration cancelled 1992-11-09, S/N D6994 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH P35
- Registry model: [Beech P35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-p35) (registry code 1151530) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-6994
- Airframe hours: 3701
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-N 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Miller Press, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 1990, 57 hours before
- Departed: FSM, FORT SMITH, AR
- Destination: BJC, BROOMFIED, CO
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 799 total, 617 in this make and model, 628 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 14 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 330° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BKF, 1 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 19901007044259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901007044259A), Oct 7, 1990: Beech P35BEECH, Aurora, CO, Substantial damage. Encountered icing. Could not maintain altitude. Crashed in field attempting to make it to airport.

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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