Date:	Tuesday 19 January 1988
Time:	19:20
Type:	Swearingen SA227-AC Metro III
Owner/operator:	Trans-Colorado Airlines
Registration:	N68TC
MSN:	AC-457
Year of manufacture:	1981
Total airframe hrs:	11895 hours
Engine model:	Garrett TPE331-11U-611G
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 17
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	8 km NE of Durango-La Plata Airport, CO (DRO) -   United States of America
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Denver-Stapleton International Airport, CO (DEN/KDEN)
Destination airport:	Durango-La Plata Airport, CO (DRO/KDRO)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
Continental Express 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."

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

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