Fairchild SA-227AC N68TC
20 January 1988 · Bayfield, Colorado, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 20 January 1988 at about 02:20 local time, a Fairchild SA-227AC registered N68TC, operated by Trans Colorado Airlines, was involved in an accident near Bayfield, Colorado, United States. 17 people were on board and 9 died, one was seriously injured, 6 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.
The record
- Date
- at 02:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Bayfield, Colorado, United States
- Nearest airport
- Durango (DRO)
- Coordinates
- 37.2301, -107.5909
- Aircraft
- Fairchild SA-227AC
- Registration
- N68TC
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Trans Colorado Airlines
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Denver → Durango
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- DCA88MA017
People
9 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
Probable cause
The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.
Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING AS CONTINENTAL EXPRESS FLIGHT 2286. DURING THE APPROACH IN IFR CONDITIONS, THE AIRCRAFT WENT BELOW THE MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE THEN STRUCK THE TERRAIN AT 7180 FEET MSL. EXAM OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY PRE-IMPACT FAILURES OR SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE COPILOT WAS FLYING THE AIRPLANE DURING THE APPROACH. EVALUATION OF THE RADAR DATA SHOWED AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT BEFORE THE COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. POST- MORTEM TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMINATION SHOWED THAT THE CAPTAIN HAD USED COCAINE PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT. THE SAFTEY BOARD CONCLUDED THAT THIS USE HAD ADVERSLY AFFECTED HIS ABILITY TO MONITOR THE UNSTABILIZED APPROACH FLOWN BY THE COPILOT. RECORDS OF BOTH CREWMEMBERS REVEALED PRIOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS AND ACCIDENTS, AND, IN THE CASE OF THE CAPTAIN, A PREVIOUS AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT. EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER CONDITIONS INDICATED THAT A 10 TO 15 KNOT TAILWIND CONDITION EXISTED THROUGHOUT THE APPROACH.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Fairchild SA-227AC accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Mar 1985 | Fairchild SA-227AC | Hailey, Idaho, United States | Horizon Airlines, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 7 Oct 1991 | Fairchild SA-227AC | Augusta, Maine, United States | Northeast Express | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Apr 1992 | Fairchild SA-227AC | Lexington, Kentucky, United States | Mesaba Airlines | Minor injuries | - |
| 25 Jun 1992 | Fairchild SA-227AC | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | Northeast Express Airlines | No injuries | - |
| 29 Oct 1994 | Fairchild SA-227AC | Oakland, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 5 Apr 1994 | Fairchild SA-227AC | Ontario, California, United States | Skywest Airlines Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Dec 1988 | Cessna 152 II | Gilcrest, Colorado, United States | Larry J. Kuebrich | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jul 1988 | Boeing 727-100 | Denver, Colorado, United States | Connie Kallitta Services | No injuries | - |
| 15 Sep 1988 | Cessna 206 | Glade Park, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Sep 1988 | Beechcraft 1900 | Denver, Colorado, United States | Rocky Mountain Airways | No injuries | - |
| 31 Dec 1988 | Cessna 172M | Erie, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jan 1988 | Cessna 152 | Greeley, Colorado, United States | - | No injuries | - |