ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 297167
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| Date: | 09-JUN-2002 |
| Time: | 19:30 LT |
| Type: |  Beechcraft 58P Baron |
| Owner/operator: | U.S. Forest Service |
| Registration: | N123Z |
| MSN: | TJ-211 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Grand Junction, CO -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Unknown |
| Nature: | Fire fighting |
| Departure airport: | Grand Junction-Walker Field, CO (GJT/KGJT) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot departed Grand Junction, Colorado (GJT) on fire assignment as a Forest Service lead airplane, to the Coal Seam Fire in Garfield County, Colorado, in the vicinity of Glenwood Springs. The pilot reported experiencing low-level wind shear and light, moderate, and severe turbulence from just after takeoff through arriving at the area of operation. Following a reconnaissance of the fire, the pilot reported climbing to approximately 5,000 feet agl (above ground level) to avoid the turbulence and wait for wind conditions to improve so that tanker operations (aircraft dropping fire suppressant chemicals on the wildfire) could begin. The pilot reported that wind conditions improved and tanker operations commenced. On conclusion of the tanker operations, the pilot returned to GJT. The pilot reported he was in the vicinity of the Book Cliffs, approximately 10 miles northeast of GJT, approximately 2,000 feet agl in a low power descent, and an airspeed of approximately 150-160 knots, when he encountered one significant event of severe turbulence. The pilot reported the winds were out of the southwest at 20 knots with gusts to 29 knots. The airplane continued to GJT and landed uneventfully. The aircraft damage was noted the following morning during a routine preflight inspection. An examination of the airplane showed the top skin of the airplane's left wing, between the fuselage and the left engine nacelle, was buckled. No other anomalies were found. The reported winds at GJT, 34 minutes prior to the event, were 180 degrees at 20 knots with gusts to 28 knots.
Probable Cause: the pilot's inadvertent flight into adverse weather conditions. A factor contributing to the accident was the terrain-induced turbulence.
Sources:
NTSB DEN02TA052
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 14-Oct-2022 15:15 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
| 12-Nov-2022 01:39 | Ron Averes | Updated [Operator, Nature, Narrative] |
| 29-May-2023 22:28 | Ron Averes | Updated [Operator, Location] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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