Denver - Boisé

On November 15, 1987 at 02:15 PM, Denver - Boisé experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-9, operated by Continental Airlines, with the event recorded near Denver-Stapleton Colorado.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

82 people were known to be on board, 28 fatalities were recorded, 54 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 34.1%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 77, passenger fatalities: 25, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Weather conditions were moderate snow and freezing temperatures. Following a 27 minute delay between deicing and departure, on takeoff the aircraft was over-rotated by the first officer. Aircraft control was lost, the aircraft stalled and impacted off the right side of the runway. Company procedures called for repeat deicing when in icing conditions if a delay exceeds 20 minutes. Confusion between the tower and the flight crew due to procedural errors resulted in the delayed takeoff clearance. Both pilots were inexperienced in their respective crew positions. The captain had 33 hours experience as a DC-9 captain. The first officer had 36 hours jet experience, all in the DC-9. First officer demonstrated weak scan in training and had pilot performance problems with previous employers. First officer was on reserve, and had not flown for 24 days. The trip was assigned to the first officer for proficiency. Flight was first officer's 2nd trip as DC-9 first officer. Wing vortices from a landing aircraft on a parallel runway were not a factor in the accident.

Aircraft reference details include registration N626TX, MSN 45726, year of manufacture 1966.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 39.7778°, -104.8651°.