Jeffco Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Broomfield, Colorado 80020
Monday, March 15, 1999 21:46 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was north of the airport at 8,000 feet in bound for landing when she turned on the fuel boost pumps and switched from the auxiliary to the main tanks following a momentary surge. Minutes later, the left engine began to surge again. She was able to substantially restore power to the left engine. During approach to landing, the power on the left engine began to surge again, followed by a partial loss of power. As she flared for landing, the aircraft veered to the left and departed the runway into the grass. Based on the pilot's fuel calculations, the aircraft should have had 53.2 gallons of fuel remaining when she landed. The day after the accident, fuel was found in the right main fuel tank; however, the left tank was compromised and the presence of fuel could not be verified. Following the accident, the left engine was run in a test cell. The engine operated up to the maximum available power, and no discrepancies were observed. The turbocharger was also examined, and no abnormalities were found.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A partial loss of power on the left engine for undetermined reasons. A factor was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during landing flare/touchdown.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/15/1999
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2146
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City BROOMFIELD
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80020
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport JEFFCO AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BJC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 5670
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2146 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BJC
Elevation of weather observation facility 5670
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 6622
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 324
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 15 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:26AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4127T
NTSB Number DEN99LA054
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 320D
Aircraft Series Identifier 320D
Aircraft Serial Number 320D0027
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Mar 14 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 5188
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SPUR AIRCRAFT RENTAL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3411 ALMY ROAD 105
Aircraft Owner City EVANSTON
Aircraft Owner State WY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 82930
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name STAR WEST AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1529
Operator City EVANSTON
Operator State WY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 82931
Operator Code DHFA
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CYS
Departure City CHEYENNE
Departure State WY
Departure Country
Departure Time 2055
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code BJC
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29R
Runway Length 9000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --