# NTSB DEN92LA063: Fairchild 24W-46, N81229, Brighton, CO, June 20, 1992 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 20, 1992, 14:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: Brighton, CO - Coordinates: 39.950233, -104.790214 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9502&lon=-104.7902&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18218 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN92LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18218/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN92LA063 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - aircraft moving on ground - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - object - aircraft moving on ground - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THREE AIRPLANES, A GLASAIR, A FAIRCHILD, AND A PIPER, TAXIED ON THE RUNWAY TO THE END FOR TAKEOFF. THERE WAS NO TAXIWAY. THE PILOTS WERE IN RADIO COMMUNICATION HAD AGREED TO THIS PROCEDURE. WHEN THEY REACHED THE END OF THE RUNWAY THE PIPER TAXIED OFF ONTO THE GRASS. THE FAIRCHILD PILOT SAW THE PIPER ON THE GRASS BUT DID NOT SEE THE GLASAIR; HOWEVER, HE ASSUMED THE GLASAIR HAD ALSO EXITED THE RUNWAY AND THE FAIRCHILD PILOT BEGAN HIS TAKEOFF. AFTER ROLLING ABOUT 100 FEET THE FAIRCHILD COLLIDED WITH THE GLASAIR. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THREE AIRPLANES, A GLASAIR, A FAIRCHILD, AND A PIPER, TAXIED ON THE RUNWAY TO THE END FOR TAKEOFF. THERE WAS NO TAXIWAY. THE PILOTS WERE IN RADIO COMMUNICATION AND HAD AGREED TO THIS PROCEDURE. WHEN THEY REACHED THE END OF THE RUNWAY THE PIPER TAXIED OFF ONTO THE GRASS. THE FAIRCHILD PILOT SAW THE PIPER ON THE GRASS BUT DID NOT SEE THE GLASAIR; HOWEVER, HE ASSUMED THE GLASAIR HAD ALSO EXITED THE RUNWAY AND THE FAIRCHILD PILOT BEGAN HIS TAKEOFF. AFTER ROLLING ABOUT 100 FEET THE FAIRCHILD COLLIDED WITH THE GLASAIR. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N81229](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N81229), registered now, S/N W46130, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD 24W-46 - Registry model: [Fairchild 24W-46](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-24w-46) (registry code 3370626) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: W46-130 - Airframe hours: 2328 - Engines: CONTINENTAL W670-6N 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hedrick, Walter H. - Registered owner: Hedrick, Walter H. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1991, 34 hours before - Departed: CO12 - Destination: GXY, GREELEY, CO - Airport: CO12, Brighton Van-Aire Estates, runway 12, 3,950 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N32KW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32KW-1994-11-22), registration cancelled 1994-11-22, S/N 528 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WELLS GLASAIR-SH2 (GLASAIR-SH) - Registry model: [Wells Kenneth N GLASAIR-SH2](https://openairdocs.org/model/wells-kenneth-n-glasair-sh2) (registry code 05655YL) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 528 - Airframe hours: 288 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B1B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wells, Kenneth N. - Registered owner: Wells, Kenneth N. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 22, 1992, 15 hours before - Airport: CO12, Brighton Van-Aire Estates, runway 12, 3,950 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N81229; age 72; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 13,323 total, 284 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days - Pilot, aircraft N32KW; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,454 total, 1,309 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 2 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DEN, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19920620021221A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920620021221A), Jun 20, 1992: Frchld 24W46, Brighton, CO, Substantial damage. On takeoff roll collided wiht N32KW that was back taxiing on the runway. Was unable to see over nose with tail down - [Accident 19920620021222A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920620021222A), Jun 20, 1992: Amtr GLASAIR, Brighton, CO, Destroyed. Back taxiing on runway was struck by departing N81229 that failed to see him on runway or ascertain runway clear. 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.