Narrative:
The aircraft encountered turbulence while approaching the missed approach point of Aspen Airport (ASE) runway 15. A missed approach procedure was executed and a left turn was made at 15 DME. The pilot did not execute a right hand turn as he was supposed to, because he feared that the plane might stall when initiating an immediate right hand turn over higher terrain. The airspeed decayed to 96 knots and the aircraft collided with trees on a mountain.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Pilot's improper IFR procedure. Contributing factors included moderate turbulence, low ceilings, obscuration and snow."
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 5 January 1989 |
| Time: | 07:39 |
| Type: |  Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster |
| Operator: | Federal Express |
| Registration: | N945FE |
| MSN: | 208B0046 |
| First flight: | 1987 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1041 |
| Engines: | 1 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 5 km (3.1 mls) E of Aspen Airport, CO (ASE) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Denver International Airport, CO (DEN/KDEN), United States of America |
| Aspen Airport, CO (ASE/KASE), United States of America |
The aircraft encountered turbulence while approaching the missed approach point of Aspen Airport (ASE) runway 15. A missed approach procedure was executed and a left turn was made at 15 DME. The pilot did not execute a right hand turn as he was supposed to, because he feared that the plane might stall when initiating an immediate right hand turn over higher terrain. The airspeed decayed to 96 knots and the aircraft collided with trees on a mountain.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Pilot's improper IFR procedure. Contributing factors included moderate turbulence, low ceilings, obscuration and snow."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» NTSBPhotos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Denver International Airport, CO to Aspen Airport, CO as the crow flies is 200 km (125 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Denver International Airport, CO to Aspen Airport, CO as the crow flies is 200 km (125 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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