# NTSB FTW94LA092: Rockwell 690C, N5938K, Hayden, CO, March 8, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 7, 1994, 19:35 local (Mar 8, 1994, 02:35 UTC) - Place: Hayden, CO - Coordinates: 40.480941, -107.260704 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4809&lon=-107.2607&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19006 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19006/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA092 ## Probable cause FAILURE BY THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE. A FACTOR WAS DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, descent - normal - object - tree(s) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis WHILE ON A VISUAL DESCENT FOR LANDING TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT DURING A DARK NIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ON THE TOP OF A 9,600 FOOT MOUNTAIN APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT CONTINUED TO THE AIRPORT AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY AFTER SWITCHING FROM THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT SEAT DUE TO A SHATTERED WIND SCREEN. THE PILOT DID NOT KNOW WHAT HE HAD HIT UNTIL HE INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT AFTER LANDING. AIRPORT ELEVATION WAS 6,604 FEET. THE PILOT HAD THE AIRPORT IN SIGHT AND WAS PROCEEDING TO A BASE LEG WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. ## Factual narrative On March 7, 1994, at 1935 mountain standard time, a Rockwell International 690C, N5938K, operating as Casper Air Service Flight 81, sustained substantial damage during descent near Yampa Valley Regional Airport, Hayden, Colorado. The pilot was not injured; he was the only occupant. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this on demand, commercial cargo flight. An IFR flight plan was filed and cancelled by the pilot approximately 5 minutes prior to the accident. During a visual descent for landing the airplane collided with trees in mountainous terrain approximately 9,600 feet mean sea level. The pilot switched from the left to the right seat due to wind screen damage and flew the aircraft to Yampa Valley Regional Airport, a distance of approximately 15 miles. He landed at Yampa Valley incurring no further damage. Airport elevation is 6,604 feet above mean sea level. The nose section, windscreen, both wings, the number one engine, and both horizontal stabilizers sustained damage. (See attached photographs). Light conditions were a dark night with the lights of two towns and the airport visible in front of the aircraft. According to the pilot, he had the airport in sight and was proceeding visually to a base leg when he collided with the trees. He stated that he did not know what he had hit until he inspected the aircraft following landing. The pilot also stated that he had previous night experience at Hayden. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5938K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5938K-1996-10-01), registration cancelled 1996-10-01, S/N 11686 (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: 11686 - Airframe hours: 6976 - Engines: GARRETT TPE-331-5-254 717 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Casper Air Service - Registered owner: Casper Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Provisional (Special) - Departed: RIW, RIVERTON, WY - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 9,300 total, 530 in this make and model, 8,600 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HDN, 15 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 19940307005739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940307005739A), Mar 7, 1994: Gulstm 690C, Hayden, CO, Substantial damage. Struck trees on mountainside during night landing approach. Pilot had airport in sight. Landed safe at airport. 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.