Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Aspen, Colorado 81611
Sunday, October 6, 1985 12:46 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER DEPARTURE FROM GLENWOOD SPRINGS COUNTY ARPT THE PLT INITIATED A CRUISE CLIMB TO FLY OVER A 12,093 FT HIGH MOUNTAIN PASS. HE ENTERED THE NARROW PASS AT AN ALT LOWER THAN THE SUMMIT, ENCOUNTERED DOWNDRAFT WIND CURRENTS AND WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB FAST ENOUGH TO CLEAR RAPIDLY RISING TERRAIN.HE ATTEMPTED A 60 DEG BANK TURN TO REVERSE COURSE WHICH RESULTED IN THE ACFT STALL WARNING ACTIVATING. HE ABORTED THE TURN AND EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/6/1985
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1246
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City ASPEN
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81611
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 10
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 16
Degrees magnetic from airport 104
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1245 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 284
Weather Observation Facility ID ASE
Elevation of weather observation facility 7793
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 18000
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) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 12669
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1496
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 6 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28867
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2578V
NTSB Number DEN86LA004
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 177RG
Aircraft Series Identifier 177RG
Aircraft Serial Number 177RG0623
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 16 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 63
Airframe Hours 2937
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TRIPLE S FLYING SVC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 795 WESTBANK RD
Aircraft Owner City CLENWOOD SPNGS
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 81601
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code 06
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 --
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 GWS
Departure City GLENWOOD SPRING
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1206
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code COS
Destination City COLORADO SPRING
Destination State CO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
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 --