Animas Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Durango, Colorado 81301
Friday, January 27, 1989 18:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ATP RATED PLT WAS STARTING A SCHEDULED PART 135, CARGO RUN, DEPARTING ON RWY 19, A 5,000 X 50 FOOT, ASPHALT RWY. THE RWY WAS COVERED BY ONE INCH OF SNOW AND A SNOW SHOWER WAS IN PROGRESS. THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT REMOVE SNOW FROM THE ACFT PRIOR TO THE TAKEOFF ATTEMPT, BECAUSE IT DID NOT APPEAR TO NEED IT. THE AIRPORT IS NEITHER APPROVED NOR EQUIPPED FOR INSTRUMENT OPERATIONS AS REQUIRED IN THE FAA APPROVED COMPANY OPERATION SPECIFICATIONS. THE PILOT REPORTED THE VISIBILITY AS '2 TO 3 MILES,' WITH CALM WINDS AND SAID HE COULD NOT ESTIMATE A CEILING THROUGH THE FALLING SNOW. THREE FAA INSPECTORS, WHO WERE 3 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT, SAID THE VISIBILITY WAS LESS THAN 2 MILES, AND THE CEILING WAS INDEFINITE, LESS THAN 1000 FEET. AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. DURING LIFTOFF, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR ENTERED DEEP SNOW ON THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE RWY. THE ACFT SETTLED BACK TO THE GROUND AND PIVOTED 270 DEG TO THE RIGHT. THE NOSE AND LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AS THE ACFT STOPPED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING TAKEOFF. THAT THE PILOT ATTEMPTED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE CONDITIONS FROM AN AIRPORT THAT WAS NOT APPROVED FOR IMC OPERATIONS IS CONSIDERED TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/27/1989
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City DURANGO
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81301
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ANIMAS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 5C00
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 6690
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 1000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
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) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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) 35
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 27 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2158
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38013
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:24PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4737P
NTSB Number DEN89LA069
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 P210N
Aircraft Series Identifier P210N
Aircraft Serial Number P21000093
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 8 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 38
Airframe Hours 2455
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KANGAROO TRANSPORTATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 2513
Aircraft Owner City DURANGO
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 81301
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code KRTA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code 5CO0
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ABQ
Destination City ALBUQUERQUE
Destination State NM
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 19
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --