Crested Butte Mun. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Crested Butte, Colorado 81224
Monday, November 14, 1983 8:45 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE GROUND WAS COVERED WITH ABOUT 6 INCHES OF LIGHT SNOW & THE WIND WAS FROM THE SOUTHWEST AT 5 TO 10 KTS. A SNOW PLOW PRECEEDED HIM TO THE RWY & HAD CLEARED A STRIP ABOUT 10 TO 12 FT WIDE ON THE 1ST 1/3 OF THE RWY. WHEN THE PLT WAS READY FOR TAKEOFF, HE DID NOT SEE THE SNOW PLOW. AFTER WAITING FOR A FEW MINUTES, THE PLT THOUGHT THAT THE SNOW PLOW OPERATOR WAS WAITING FOR HIM TO TAKEOFF, SO HE (THE PLT) ELECTED TO PROCEED WITH THE DEPARTURE. THE PLT STATED THAT AT APRX 50 MPH, DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE ACFT BEGAN DRIFTING LEFT. HE CORRECTED WITH LIGHT RIGHT RUDDER, BUT REPORTED THE ACFT OVERREACTED. LEFT RUDDER WAS THEN APPLIED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL ENCOUNTERED SNOW & THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RWY. THE PLT PULLED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE, BUT BEFORE STOPPING, THE ACFT HIT A ROCK EMBANKMENT, THE PROP WAS DAMAGED, THE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE LEFT WING WAS DAMAGED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/14/1983
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 845
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City CRESTED BUTTE
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81224
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CRESTED BUTTE MUN.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3V6
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 8940
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 847 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID 2V9
Elevation of weather observation facility 7668
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 225
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 8000
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) 2125
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 22473
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:16AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N14780
NTSB Number DEN84LA024
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELLANCA
Aircraft Model 17-31ATC
Aircraft Series Identifier 17-31ATC
Aircraft Serial Number 74-31096
Certified Max Gross Weight 3325
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 22 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1310
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BELLANCA N14780 INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7243 SOUTH HARRISON WAY
Aircraft Owner City LITTLETON
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80122
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ASPEN AERO CLUB
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 12810 E. CONTROL TOWER ROAD
Operator City ENGLEWOOD
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 80112
Operator Code
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 845
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GUC
Destination City GUNNISON
Destination State CO
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 11
Runway Length 4500
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --