Beechcraft C 99 N216CS

Summary

On 24 January 2017 at about 02:00 local time, a Beechcraft C 99 registered N216CS, operated by Alpine Air Inc, was involved in an accident near Durango, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 January 2017 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Durango, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Durango-la Plata County (DRO)

Coordinates

37.1503, -107.7500

Aircraft

Beechcraft C 99

Registration

N216CS

Category

Airplane

Year built

1983

Engines

2

Operator

Alpine Air Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Durango → Denver

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CEN17LA123

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inability to maintain directional control during takeoff in crosswind conditions on a contaminated runway, which resulted in a runway excursion.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight crew was departing the airport in winter weather conditions. The flight crew taxied to the runway and waited as another regional jet landed and cleared the runway. The captain of that jet reported on the common traffic advisory frequency that the braking action was nil and cautioned the accident flight crew to be careful because the runway was slick. The pilot flying reported that, as they taxied onto the runway, the wind was 40° right of runway heading at 10 kts with no gusts and the runway was slick. As the airplane was on the takeoff roll passing 60 kts, the pilot noticed a rising crosswind but maintained centerline. When the airplane was passing 80 kts, the flight crew was unable to maintain the airplane's track on the centerline with full right aileron deflection. The pilot attempted to rotate and lift off, but the airplane went into deep snow on the side of the runway. The pilot then reduced power to idle before going off the left side of the runway; the nose wheel collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the nose of the airplane and both engines. The flight crew reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.