# NTSB DEN92IA007: Douglas DC-10-10, N1808U, Colorado Spring, CO, October 30, 1991

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: October 30, 1991, 10:03 local (17:03 UTC)
- Place: Colorado Spring, CO
- Coordinates: 38.819702, -104.700164 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8197&lon=-104.7002&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 57 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18165
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN92IA007
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18165/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN92IA007

## Probable cause

THE CAPTAIN'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION AND THE COPILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.  FACTORS WERE:  THE CROSSWIND AND SNOW/ICE ON 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 - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icy (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED 50 KIAS ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL, IT DRIFTED RIGHT. THE FIRST OFFICER, WHO WAS MAKING THE TAKEOFF, CORRECTED WITH LEFT RUDDER. RIGHT DRIFT BECAME MORE PRONOUNCED AND HARD LEFT RUDDER WAS USED.  THE CAPTAIN TOOK OVER, RETARDED ALL THREE THROTTLES, THEN ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN CONTROL BY USING ASYMMETRICAL THRUST.  WHEN THIS FAILED, THE THROTTLES WERE RETARDED AND REVERSE THRUST APPLIED.  POST INCIDENT INSPECTION DISCLOSED NO APPARENT DAMAGE.  THE NEXT MORNING, A DIFFERENT CREW REJECTED THE TAKEOFF WHEN THE NO. 3 ENGINE FAILED.  POST INCIDENT DISASSEMBLY AND INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED METAL IN THE TAILPIPE, SAND AND MUD IN THE COMPRESSOR SECTION, AND A 13TH STAGE AND TWO 14TH STAGE COMPRESSOR BLADES BROKEN OFF, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO BOTH THE LOW AND HIGH PRESSURE TURBINES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1808U (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-10-10
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46605
- Engines: GE CF6-6 39300 horsepower turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: United Airlines
- Registered owner: United Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 2, 2000
- Destination: DEN, DENVER, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: COS, Colorado Springs Municipa, runway 17, 11,021 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; flight engineer, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 17,727 total, 289 in this make and model, 161 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 13 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft
- Temperature: 12 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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).

- [Incident 19911030056449I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911030056449I), Oct 30, 1991: Doug DC1010, Colorado Spring, CO. Pilot lost directional control on takeoff from packed snow. NR3 engine was slow spin up. Veered off and on runway.

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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