Denver - Durango

On January 20, 1989 at 09:25 AM, Denver - Durango experienced a crash involving Convair CV-580, operated by Aspen Airways, with the event recorded near Buena Vista Colorado.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

26 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 26 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 23, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. During flight, crew shut down the right engine when warning light for gearbox oil pressure illuminated and pressure was noted below minimum limit of 130 psi. Shortly after securing right engine, left engine lost power (fuel tank shutoff valve switch and fuel crossfeed valve switch were located near each other). Attempts to restart left engine were unsuccessful. With lack of alternative current electrical power, captain could not unfeather right engine for restart. During emergency landing, aircraft was damaged on uneven terrain. Operational check of right engine (at ground level) revealed no malfunction that would have prevented normal operation. Examination of left engine revealed turbine section had overheated and turbine blades had severe heat damage. Captain said that when he tried to restart left engine, fuel valves were in normal position and power lever was 1' above idle. He recalled an engine rpm of 8000, but didn't recall if he had used feather button to reduce rpm to 3000 (as directed by checklist). He verified fuel switches were 'on' and he tried to crossfeed fuel (in event of blockage). Cross feeding of fuel was not part of restart procedure. Flight manual cautioned about importance of reducing power to flight idle, to decrease fuel flow to engine and minimize possible overheating.

Aircraft reference details include registration N73160, MSN 336, year of manufacture 1968.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 38.8422°, -106.1311°.