Gulfstream Aerospace Corp Commander accident near Wray, CO
On January 15, 2009, a Gulfstream Aerospace Corp Commander (airplane) was involved in an accident near Wray, CO. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 15, 2009
- Place
- Wray, CO
- Aircraft
- Gulfstream Aerospace Corp Commander · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 40.179°N, 102.241°W
- NTSB ID
- 20090116X02657
Official records · CEN09FA135
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- ATC Transcripts and Summaries: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 15, 2009, approximately 0700 mountain standard time, a Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Commander Division 690 C, N840NK, owned by A David Miller Trustee, and operated by J-W Operating Company was destroyed when it impacted terrain four miles north, northeast of Wray Municipal Airport (K2V5), Wray, Colorado. A post impact fire ensued. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91 on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The airline transport certificated pilot, commercial certificated second pilot, and commercial certificated passenger were fatally injured. The cross-country flight departed Centennial Airport (KAPA), Denver, Colorado, approximately 0630 and was en route to K2V5. According to J-W Operating Company, the airline transport certificated pilot, an occasional contract pilot for J-W Operating Company, was on board the airplane for positioning purposes; after the flight from KAPA to K2V5 to Addison Airport, Dallas, Texas, (KADS), he intended to ferry another company airplane back to KAPA later that day. The accident airplane was based in KAPA and the flight was scheduled to pick up one additional passenger in Wray before continuing on to KADS. According to records provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), N840NK was in radio communications with Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZDV) prior to the accident. Approximately 0634 the controller queried N840NK about which heading would take
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during the approach resulting in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper preflight planning and conditions conducive for structural icing.
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Browse: Colorado · Gulfstream aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
