Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nederland, Colorado 80466
Monday, March 18, 1991 13:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AS THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A MOUNTAIN PASS, THE PILOT NOTICED DECREASING ENGINE MANIFOLD PRESSURE. UNABLE TO CLEAR HIGHER TERRAIN, HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN DEEP SNOW. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE RIGHT IGNITION HARNESS WAS DETERIORATED AND THE IGNITION LEADS HAD ARCED. THE LEFT IGNITION HARNESS (SLICK 1200 SERIES) HAD BEEN ALTERED WITH THE USE OF UNAPPROVED BENDIX 'PANCAKE' GROMMETS. THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN 129 HRS SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION. CONDITIONS PREVENTED RECOVERY OF THE WRECKAGE UNTIL 6/27/91. TOTAL TIME ON THE ENGINE WAS 1,714 HRS. RECOMMENDED OVERHAUL INTERVAL WAS 1,800 HRS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

DETERIORATED IGNITION HARNESS AND IGNITION LEAD ARCING. FACTORS WERE THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/18/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City NEDERLAND
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80466
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1245 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 290
Weather Observation Facility ID SBS
Elevation of weather observation facility 6878
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 65
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1317
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43912
Date of most recent change to record Feb 1 2008 9:12AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\hamg
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1241J
NTSB Number DEN91LA053
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Rockwell
Aircraft Model 112B
Aircraft Series Identifier 112B
Aircraft Serial Number 504
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BERGER, HENRY M. & JUNE H.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 553
Aircraft Owner City WEST DOVER
Aircraft Owner State VT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 05356
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BERGER, HENRY M. & JUNE H.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City WEST DOVER
Operator State VT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 05356
Operator Code
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BJC
Departure City BROOMFIELD
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SBS
Destination City STEAMBOAT SPRIN
Destination State CO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 1 2008 9:12AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\HAMG
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --