You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Friday 28 June 1974 |
| Time: | c. 14:06 LT |
| Type: |  de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 |
| Owner/operator: | Rocky Mountain Airways |
| Registration: | N23RM |
| MSN: | 249 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1969 |
| Engine model: | P&W Canada PT6A-27 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 12 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial, repaired |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Denver-Stapleton International Airport, CO (DEN/KDEN) -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | Steamboat Springs Airport, CO (SBS/KSBS) |
| Denver-Stapleton International Airport, CO (DEN/KDEN) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On June 28, 1974, at about 14:06 Mountain Standard Time (MST), a de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300, N23RM, operating Rocky Mountain Airways flight 323, and a Beechcraft V35B Bonanza, N8105R, under callsign Zero Five Romeo, collided near Denver Stapleton Airport. The Twin Otter which was on final to Denver suffered devastating flight control damage and was unable to make it to RWY 05R, where it was cleared to land and instead decided to force land in a wheat field near Stapleton. N8105R initially began diving toward the ground with flight 323 before recovering.
The 2 Flight crew and 10 passengers of flight 323 suffered minor to no injuries in the occurrence and the sole occupant of N8105R was uninjured. The twin otter sustained major damage to the aircraft, primarily in the area of the left wing. The V35 suffered substantial damage. Flight 323 was operating under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121 as a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Steamboat Springs Airport (SBS), Steamboat Springs, Colorado. N8105R was operating from Amarillo Tradwind Airport (TDW), Amarillo, Texas.
Flight Crew Information
Flight 323:
At the time of the collision the pilot, seated in the right seat as co-pilot, operating the controls of the Rocky Mountain Airways' DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft (hereinafter "OTTER") was Terrance M. Sargent. He holds an airline transport pilot's rating in single and multi-engine aircraft, a flight instructor's rating and a commercial pilot and instrument rating with approximately 5,000 hours flying time. The pilot occupying the left seat in the cockpit and acting as co-pilot on the flight was Douglas Deveraux. The pilot and co-pilot alternated duties during the course of the day with one of them flying the aircraft while the other assisted. A flight crew usually flew five round trips per day between Denver and localities in the mountainous area of Colorado, operating approximately two hours per day in the Denver TCA where they were fully familiar with the services rendered by the FAA air *643 traffic control center
N8105R:
Dr. Allen K. Heacock was the pilot and sole occupant of Beechcraft Bonanza N8105R (hereinafter "BONANZA") and he possessed a commercial pilot's license with approximately 240 hours flying time.
Collision Timeline
1403:38 Rocky Mountain 323 mentioned to be with N801K on Final
1403:50 Rocky Mountain 323 cleared to follow N801K on final
1403:53 Rocky Mountain 323 acknowledges clearance to follow N801K on Final
1404:12 N8105R states level flight at FL070
1404:15 N8105R asked if N801K in line of sight
1404:24 N8105R confirms N801K is in sight
1404:31 N8105R asked turn to follow N801K
1404:35 N8105 confirms follow and approach to 05R
1404:40 Rocky Mountain 323 asked to report if N801K is in sight for following to 05R
1404:46 Rocky Mountain 323 reports N801K not in sight
1404:52 ATC asks N8105R if Rocky Mountain 323 is in sight
1404:59 Rocky Mountain 323 reports N801K now in sight
1405:02 ATC tells Rocky Mountain 323 to follow N801K
1405:04 Rocky Mountain 323 copies instruction
1405:05 N8105R asked if Rocky Mountain 323 is in sight
1405:08 N8105R reports Rocky Mountain 323 not in sight
1405:43 N8105R asked if Rocky Mountain 323 is now in sight
1405:47 N8105R reports Rocky Mountain 323 is now in sight
1405:48 N8105R asked to follow Rocky Mountain 323 on final to 05R
1405:53 Remaining transmissions cut out due to ELT
1406:00 N8105R and Rocky Mountain 323 collide on final
1406:20 Rocky Mountain 323 force lands in a wheat field
Damage to Aircraft
Flight 323:
The twin otter suffered major damage to its left wing and other flight control surfaces around the area such as the flaps, slats, and Ailerons. Other parts of the fuselage were damaged in the forced landing.
N8105R:
The aircraft suffered severe damage to one of its wings.
Conclusions:
The cause of the collision would be seen as of both aircraft’s blind spots prevented each other from preventing a collision.
Accident investigation:
|
Sources:
NTSB
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/496/639/2350256/
https://www.twinotterworldnews.com/accidents
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 18 December 2008 | J8-VBS | Grenadine Airways | 0 | E.T. Joshua Airport, Saint Vincent |  |
min |
| Gear collapse | ||||||
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Jul-2025 00:10 | Justanormalperson | Added |
| 24-Jul-2025 00:11 | Justanormalperson | Updated [Accident report, ] |
| 25-Jul-2025 06:45 | ASN | Updated |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation