Status:	Final
Date:	19 JAN 1988
Time:	19:20
Type:	Swearingen SA227-AC Metro III
Operator:	Trans-Colorado Airlines
Registration:	N68TC
C/n / msn:	AC-457
First flight:	1981
Total airframe hrs:	11895
Engines:	2 Garrett TPE331-11U-611G
Crew:	Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Passengers:	Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 15
Total:	Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 17
Airplane damage:	Destroyed
Airplane fate:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	8 km (5 mls) NE of Durango-La Plata Airport, CO (DRO) (United States of America)
Phase:	Approach (APR)
Nature:	Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:	Denver-Stapleton International Airport, CO (DEN/KDEN), United States of America
Destination airport:	Durango-La Plata Airport, CO (DRO), United States of America
Flightnumber:	2268

Narrative:
Trans-Colorado Airlines flight 2286 departed Denver-Stapleton Airport at 18:20 for a flight to Durango and Cortez. The aircraft climbed to FL230. AT 19:03 the flight was cleared to descend to FL160 and seven minutes later to FL150. At 19:14 the Denver ARTCC issued a clearance for a VOR/DME approach to Durango runway 20. While on final approach, the aircraft hit the ground and pitched up. Engine power was increased and the plane rolled several times laterally before striking the ground again, sliding to a stop about 5 miles short of the airport.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The first officer's flying and the captain's ineffective monitoring of an unstabilized approach, which resulted in a descent below the published descent profile. Contributing to the accident was the captain's performance resulting from his use of cocaine before the accident."

Events:

Sources:
» Aviation Week & Space Technology 19.06.89 (103), 3.7.89 (75), 10.7.89 (75), 17.07.89 (103)
» ICAO Adrep Summary 6/89 (#21)
» NTSB