Swearingen SA-26AT N26JB
14 February 1992 · Glenwood Spring, Colorado, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 14 February 1992 at about 03:55 local time, a Swearingen SA-26AT registered N26JB was involved in an accident near Glenwood Spring, Colorado, United States. 5 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 03:55
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Glenwood Spring, Colorado, United States
- Coordinates
- 39.5404, -107.3297
- Aircraft
- Swearingen SA-26AT
- Registration
- N26JB
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Grand Junction → Denver
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- DEN92FA035
People
3 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Probable cause
MALFUNCTION OF THE RIGHT ENGINE FUEL CONTROL THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FLAME OUT, AND DELAMINATION OF THE LEFT ENGINE COMPRESSOR SHROUD. FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED, THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE DARK NIGHT, AND THE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT OF THE AIR AMBULANCE FEATHERED THE RIGHT PROPELLER AFTER REPORTING 'A BIT OF A PROBLEM' WITH THE RIGHT ENGINE. HE ATTEMPTED TO DIVERT TO THE NEAREST SUITABLE AIRPORT, BUT AFTER RECEIVING ITS LATEST WEATHER REPORT, ELECTED TO RETURN TO BASE. THE AIRPLANE MADE A LEFT TURN, REENTERED IMC, AND IMPACTED A MOUNTAINSIDE ON A MAGNETIC HEADING OF 092 DEGREES. THE HEADING TO THE AIRPORT OF INTENDED LANDING WAS 272 DEGREES. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A SNOW STORM AT NIGHT. ALL FIVE OCCUPANTS SURVIVED AND WERE RESCUED THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON. THICK GREASE ON THE RIGHT ENGINE FUEL CONTROL CAM SHAFT PREVENTED A SPRING FROM RETURNING THE 3D CAM TO A LOWER ALTITUDE POSITION. THE CAM WAS FOUND STRUCK ON THE SHAFT AT A POSITION EQUATING TO AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 15,000 FEET. THE FUEL FLOW SCHEDULE FOR FLIGHT IDLE WAS BELOW SPECIFICATIONS. IN ADDITION, SHROUD MATERIAL WAS FOUND DELAMINATED FROM THE LEFT ENGINE SECOND STAGE COMPRESSOR HOUSING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Swearingen SA-26AT accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Feb 1993 | Swearingen SA-26AT | Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States | Heth, James B. | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jun 1994 | Swearingen SA-26AT | Greenville, South Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Mar 1994 | Swearingen SA-26AT | Winchester, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Oct 1990 | Swearingen SA-26AT | Monongahela, Pennsylvania, United States | Zagari & Associates | No injuries | - |
| 30 Dec 1987 | Swearingen SA-26AT | Telluride, Colorado, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Jul 1986 | Swearingen SA-26AT | Waycross, Georgia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Apr 1992 | Cessna 310-L | Hugo, Colorado, United States | Bell, Anthony H. | No injuries | - |
| 4 May 1992 | Boeing 757-222 | Denver, Colorado, United States | United Airlines | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Jul 1992 | Piper PA-34-200T | Lamar, Colorado, United States | Lyddon Flying Service | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 1992 | Embraer EMB-120 RT | Denver, Colorado, United States | Mesa Airlines, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jan 1992 | Cessna 152 | Falcon, Colorado, United States | Patrick Clayton | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jan 1992 | Cessna 172P | Englewood, Colorado, United States | P.c. Flyers, Inc. | No injuries | - |