# NTSB DEN91FA017: Cessna T210L, N732DS, Aspen, CO, November 12, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 12, 1990, 12:16 local (19:16 UTC)
- Place: Aspen, CO
- Coordinates: 39.189792, -106.819847 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1898&lon=-106.8198&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 13, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18008
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91FA017
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18008/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91FA017

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHILE TURNING OVER HIGH TERRAIN BESIDE THE AIRPORT, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  EXCESSIVE GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, THE TERRAIN, AND LACK OF AVAILABLE ALTITUDE TO RECOVER FROM THE STALL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - initiated, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF AT 1215:00, AND THE CONTROLLER ASKED THE PILOT IF HE WOULD BE DEPARTING TO THE SOUTHWEST OR IF HE WOULD BE PROCEEDING TO THE NORTH AND DOWN THE VALLEY. THE PILOT ANSWERED BY GIVING HIS CALL SIGN ONLY. THE CONTROLLER OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A NORMAL TAKEOFF, THEN HIS ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED TO OTHER TRAFFIC. WHEN HE SAW THE AIRPLANE AGAIN, IT WAS IN A STEEP LEFT TURN. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN A SLIGHTLY INVERTED ATTITUDE ABOUT 1/4 MILE WEST OF THE AIRPORT. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND OF AN AIRFRAME, ENGINE, PROPELLER, OR SYSTEM FAILURE/MALFUNCTION. HIGH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN SURROUNDED THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 80 TO 90 LBS OVER ITS MAX GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N732DS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N732DS-1991-04-18), registration cancelled 1991-04-18, S/N 21061439 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210L
- Registry model: [Cessna T210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210l) (registry code 2073449) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21061439
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-HCR 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Barrett, Lawrence Collins
- Departed: ASE
- Destination: SNA, SANTA ANA, CA
- Airport: ASE, Aspen-Pitkin Co/Sardy Fld, runway 33, 7,003 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 937 total, 621 in this make and model, 816 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter: 30.50 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 19901112049649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901112049649A), Nov 12, 1990: Cessna T210L, Aspen, CO, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Tower saw aircraft make tight climbing turn into rising terrain. Dived into ground. Wrong turn out. 93# over gross.

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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