# NTSB DEN93FA017: Rockwell 690C, N81TR, Golden, CO, December 23, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 22, 1992, 20:22 local (Dec 23, 1992, 03:22 UTC)
- Place: Golden, CO
- Coordinates: 39.729137, -105.209121 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7291&lon=-105.2091&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18243
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN93FA017
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18243/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN93FA017

## Probable cause

THE PILOT FLYING THE AIRCRAFT BEYOND THE DESIGN MANEUVERING SPEED AND EXCEEDING THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS.  A FACTOR WAS:  CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather condition - turbulence,clear air (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - normal
  - wing - failure,total
  - horizontal stabilizer attachment - failure,total
  - vertical stabilizer attachment - failure,total
  - airspeed(va) - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE IN A DESCENT FOR ARRIVAL AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED STRUCTURAL FAILURE WITH THE RIGHT OUTER WING, HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, AND VERTICAL STABILIZER SEPARATING FROM THE AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FROM THE PLANNED DESTINATION. ACCORDING TO RADAR DATA AND OTHER RESEARCH, THE DESCENT WAS CONDUCTED AT VNE AND KNOWN SEVERE TURBULENCE WAS PRESENT IN THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N81TR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81TR-1993-02-09), registration cancelled 1993-02-09, S/N 11690 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Rockwell 690C
- Registry model: [Rockwell International 690C](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-690c) (registry code 7630517) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 11690
- Airframe hours: 7768
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-33-1254 715 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Casper Air Service
- Registered owner: Casper Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 25, 1992, 32 hours before
- Departed: RIL, RIFLE, CO
- Destination: DEN, DENVER, CO
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,400 total, 910 in this make and model, 5,280 as pilot in command, 183 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 260° at 30 knots, gusting 45
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 7 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BJC, 10 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 19921222051069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921222051069A), Dec 22, 1992: Gulstm 690C, Golden, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Broke up inflight while descending to land. Severe clear air turbulence. High ground speed. AIRMET for turbulence.

## Other investigations on N81TR (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN91IA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91IA076), May 24, 1991: Aero Commander 690C (N81TR), Denver, CO, incident, no damage. Probable cause: FATIGUE FAILURE OF FLAP CABLE.

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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