# NTSB DEN92FA091: Beech E-55, N12GG, Steamboat Sprin, CO, September 5, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 4, 1992, 19:20 local (Sep 5, 1992, 01:20 UTC)
- Place: Steamboat Sprin, CO
- Coordinates: 40.470195, -106.820671 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4702&lon=-106.8207&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18162
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN92FA091
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18162/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN92FA091

## Probable cause

THE PILOT BECOMING SPATIALLY DISORIENTED AND LOSING CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.  FACTORS WERE:  THE PILOT'S DISREGARD OF THE PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING, HIS INTENTIONAL VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, HIS LACK OF RECENT INSTRUMENT TIME, AND WEATHER CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - preflight briefing service - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind
  - weather condition - snow
  - weather condition - rain

## Analysis

THE INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING AND WAS TOLD VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED DUE TO A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS BETWEEN HIS DEPARTURE POINT AND DESTINATION, AND A CONVECTIVE SIGMET HAD BEEN ISSUED. ADDITIONALLY, FLIGHT PRECAUTIONS HAD BEEN POSTED FOR MOUNTAIN OBSCUREMENT, LIGHT TO MODERATE MIXED TO CLEAR ICING, AND OCCASIONAL LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE.  THE PILOT DID NOT FILE A FLIGHT PLAN AND DEPARTED.  HUNTERS REPORTED SEEING A LOW FLYING TWIN ENGINE AIRPLANE CIRCLE THE AREA, THEN THEY HEARD THE IMPACT.  THEY SAID THE WEATHER CONSISTED OF A LOW CEILING, REDUCED VISIBILITY, FOG, HIGH WINDS, AND RAIN THAT FOLLOWED A SNOW SHOWER.  RECORDS INDICATE THE PILOT DID NOT FLY BETWEEN 1978 AND 1991, AND HAD RECENTLY BEEN GIVEN A CHECKOUT IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE.  NEAR VERTICAL IMPACT RESULTED IN MINIMAL WRECKAGE SCATTER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N12GG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12GG-2000-01-06), registration cancelled 2000-01-06, S/N TE-779 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH E-55
- Registry model: [Beech E-55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e-55) (registry code 1152732) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TE-779
- Airframe hours: 5101
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Rms Sales, Inc.
- Registered owner: Rms Sales, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 19, 1991, 409 hours before
- Departed: 2V2, LONGMONT, CO
- Destination: SBS, STEAMBOAT SPRIN, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,100 total, 350 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: variable at 25 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 150 ft overcast

## 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 19920904035249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920904035249A), Sep 4, 1992: Beech E55, Steamboat Sprin, CO, Destroyed, 2 fatal. VFR not advised due sigmets thunderstorms turbulence and icing. Left anyway VFR. Struck trees in snow rain sleet.

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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