Convair 580 N5808

Summary

On 3 February 1988 at about 03:32 local time, a Convair 580 registered N5808 was involved in an accident near Durango, Colorado, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

3 February 1988 at 03:32

Classification

Accident

Location

Durango, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

La Plata County (DRO)

Coordinates

37.2696, -107.8809

Aircraft

Convair 580

Registration

N5808

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Denver → Durango

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

DEN88FA061

2 people had minor injuries.

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

AFTER MAKING AN IFR APPROACH, THE PILOT MADE A GO-AROUND BECAUSE HE WAS BLINDED BY THE REFLECTION OF THE LANDING/TAXI LIGHTS AGAINST THE FALLING SNOW. THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE SECOND APPROACH. THE PILOT SAID HE SENSED THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTING TO THE LEFT AND HE TRIED TO CORRECT, BUT IT COLLIDED WITH A SNOW BANK. THE INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF AIRCRAFT HYDROPLANING OR SKIDDING. AIRPORT MANAGEMENT ELECTED TO DELAY PLOWING THE RUNWAY FOR FEAR OF IT FREEZING OVER. PASSENGERS CLAIMED THERE WAS 2-3 INCHES OF SNOW ON TOP OF A 3/4- INCH LAYER OF SLUSH. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RUNWAY LIGHTS WERE OF VARIOUS INTENSITIES BECAUSE SOME UNAPPROVED LIGHT BULBS OF DIFFERENT AMPERAGE WERE USED. THE RUNWAY WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH CENTERLINE LIGHTING. THE PAINTED WHITE CENTERLINE STRIPE WAS COVERED BY SNOW AND SLUSH.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.