Cortez Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cortez, Colorado 81321
Thursday, December 13, 1984 10:05 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACCIDENT ACFT WAS THE FIRST TO USE THE RWY SINCE IT WAS SCRAPED BY THE SNOW PLOW EARLIER IN THE DAY. A COMMERCIAL PLT THAT OPERATES AT THE ARPT SAID ABOUT 2-3 INCHES OF SNOW HAD ACCUMULATED ON THE RWY SINCE IT WAS CLEARED. THE PLT OF THE ACCIDENT ACFT SAID HE BACK-TAXIED ON THE RWY FOR TAKEOFF. HE BELIEVES ONE OF THE TIRES GOT IN A TAXI-MADE RUT AND THE OTHER WAS IN THE SLUSH FOR TAKEOFF. AT ABOUT 80 KTS IAS DURING TAKEOFF ROLL THE ACFT SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT ACCORDING TO THE PLT. THE POWER WAS NORMAL SO SLUSH DRAG WAS ASSUMED TO BE THE CAUSE. THE PLT SAID THAT BEFORE CORRECTIVE ACTION COULD TAKE EFFECT THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A SNOW BANK. A COMMERCIAL ACFT OPERATOR AT THE ARPT SAID THATHE DROVE ALONG THE TRACKS MADE BY THE ACFT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. HE SAID IT APPEARED TO HIM THAT THE SNOW TRACKS DEPARTED THE CENTER OF THE RWY FOR QUITE A WAYS BEFORE HITTING THE SNOWBANK.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/13/1984
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1005
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City CORTEZ
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81321
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CORTEZ
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CEZ
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 5914
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1035 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CEZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 14
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 4700
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
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 7
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2196
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 26116
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N980DW
NTSB Number DEN85LA041
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GULFSTREAM
Aircraft Model AEROCOMMANDER 695
Aircraft Series Identifier AEROCOMMAN
Aircraft Serial Number 95074
Certified Max Gross Weight 10325
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 7
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 14 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 13
Airframe Hours 1093
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NIELSON'S INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1660
Aircraft Owner City CORTEZ
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
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
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code CEZ
Departure City CORTEZ
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1005
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SLC
Destination City SALT LAKE CITY
Destination State UT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 3
Runway Length 7205
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --