Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Palisade, Colorado 81526
Saturday, August 21, 1982 9:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE FLIGHT DEPARTED THE ARAPAHOE AIRPORT WITH THE FUEL TANKS HALF FULL BECAUSE OF PASSENGER LOAD FACTOR. AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED WITHIN 45 MILES OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE PILOT SWITCHED FROM THE RIGHT FUEL TANK TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO QUIT AND HE SWITCHED BACK TO THE RIGHT TANK. AT THIS TIME, HE NOTICED THE FUEL CAP TO THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK WAS MISSING. THE AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL A SHORT TIME LATER AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON INTERSTATE 70. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED A GUARD RAIL WHEN THE PILOT SWERVED TO AVOID ONCOMING HIGHWAY TRAFFIC.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/21/1982
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 945
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City PALISADE
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81526
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 8
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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 Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
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) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2561
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N18906
NTSB Number DEN82DA172
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model C24R
Aircraft Series Identifier C24R
Aircraft Serial Number MC522
Certified Max Gross Weight 2758
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 58
Airframe Hours 165
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WNTELL ASSOCIATES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1570 FILBERT COURT
Aircraft Owner City DENVER
Aircraft Owner State C0
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80112
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WNTELL ASSOCIATES
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1570 FILBERT COURT
Operator City DENVER
Operator State C0
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 No
Departure Airport Code AI
Departure City APA
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 81
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AI
Destination City GJT
Destination State CO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
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 --