Denver - Wray
Flight / Schedule
Denver - Wray
Aircraft
Rockwell Gulfstream 690C Jetprop 840Registration
N840NK
MSN
690-11734
Year of Manufacture
1978
Operator
JW Operating CompanyDate
January 15, 2009 at 07:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Executive/Corporate/Business
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Wray Colorado
Region
North America • United States of America
Coordinates
40.0759°, -102.2233°
Crash Cause
Weather
Narrative Report
On January 15, 2009 at 07:00 AM, Denver - Wray experienced a crash involving Rockwell Gulfstream 690C Jetprop 840, operated by JW Operating Company, with the event recorded near Wray Colorado.
The flight was categorized as executive/corporate/business and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
3 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is weather. The airplane, a Rockwell Grand Commander 690C Jetprop 840, was "cleared for the approach" and approximately eight minutes later was observed emerging from the clouds, flying from west to east. Witnesses reported that the nose of the airplane dropped and the airplane subsequently impacted terrain in a near vertical attitude. Impact forces and a post impact fire destroyed the airplane. Examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. Weather at the time of the accident was depicted as overcast with three to six miles visibility. An icing probability chart depicted the probability for icing during the airplane's descent as 76 percent. AIRMETS for moderate icing and instrument meteorological conditions had been issued for the airplane’s route of flight. Another airplane in the vicinity reported light to moderate mixed icing. It could not be confirmed what information the pilot had obtained in a weather briefing, as a briefing was not obtained through a recorded source. A weight and balance calculation revealed that the accident airplane was 1,000 pounds over gross weight at the time of departure and 560 pounds over gross weight at the time of the accident. It was estimated that the center of gravity was at or just forward of design limitations.
Aircraft reference details include registration N840NK, MSN 690-11734, year of manufacture 1978.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 40.0759°, -102.2233°.
Fatalities
Total
3
Crew
2
Passengers
1
Other
0
Crash Summary
The airplane, a Rockwell Grand Commander 690C Jetprop 840, was "cleared for the approach" and approximately eight minutes later was observed emerging from the clouds, flying from west to east. Witnesses reported that the nose of the airplane dropped and the airplane subsequently impacted terrain in a near vertical attitude. Impact forces and a post impact fire destroyed the airplane. Examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. Weather at the time of the accident was depicted as overcast with three to six miles visibility. An icing probability chart depicted the probability for icing during the airplane's descent as 76 percent. AIRMETS for moderate icing and instrument meteorological conditions had been issued for the airplane’s route of flight. Another airplane in the vicinity reported light to moderate mixed icing. It could not be confirmed what information the pilot had obtained in a weather briefing, as a briefing was not obtained through a recorded source. A weight and balance calculation revealed that the accident airplane was 1,000 pounds over gross weight at the time of departure and 560 pounds over gross weight at the time of the accident. It was estimated that the center of gravity was at or just forward of design limitations.
Cause: Weather
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
2
Passengers On Board
1
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 3
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Denver - Wray
Operator
JW Operating CompanyFlight Type
Executive/Corporate/Business
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
North America • United States of America
Aircraft Details
Aircraft
Rockwell Gulfstream 690C Jetprop 840Registration
N840NK
MSN
690-11734
Year of Manufacture
1978
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