Unfortunately, another one down.


Plane crashes at Aspen airport; 1 dead, 2 injured
By Dylan Stableford, Yahoo News | Yahoo News – 3 hrs ago

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A private plane crashed upon landing at an airport in Aspen, Colo., on Sunday, eyewitnesses and aviation officials said.

Emergency crews at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport responded to the plane following the crash, which occurred shortly after noon local time. According to the Pitkin County Sheriff's Department, one person was killed and two were injured — one severely — in the crash.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane appears to be a Bombardier Challenger 600 originating from Tucson. According to public flight data, a 22-seat private Challenger model plane — owned by a Bank of Utah trustee — took off from Tucson International Airport shortly after 10 a.m. and was due to land in Aspen at 12:11 p.m. MST. Earlier Sunday, the plane flew from Toluca, Mexico, to Tucson before flying to Aspen.

There were reports of 30 mph wind gusts in Aspen around the time of the crash, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures were between zero and minus-10 degrees.

All remaining flights in and out of the airport were cancelled Sunday.

In a photo taken by a passenger on a different plane, the plane that crashed could be seen upside down in the snow. In another, dark smoke could be seen billowing from the scene.

Flying witness says they landed long with a tailwind, bounced and groundlooped it over.

Sad deal, I pray the 2 survivors make it.

Friend of a friend of mine (he was captain of another private flight) was waiting in the line up for departure. High and long, but they tried to make it stick anyway. Not good. Positive thoughts for all involved.

No surprise.
Mountain ops are dangerous , and there is no help from Denver Center/Aspen Approach.
IMO, their performance is pretty bad. IMO, safety isn't high on their list….
I was waiting to depart Eagle on the 22nd and there was an Astra that landed with no flaps(or Slats)(which is illegal) Think about that! The Colorado Mountain Airports in winter time are an accident waiting to happen.
A career ending situation if there was one.
Every plane coming and going is in violation of the FAR's. (considering aircraft performance)
Sad part is, I'm headed there in the morning. If all goes well, well great, the downside is, I'll be in Miami by nightfall.
BTW, I gave notice at my job…. it's just not worth it anymore!
Profit over common sense, at the PIC's expense, should raise a big flag!
Good luck to all you young aviation hero's out there!

Kommi…. or whatever I'm called on this site!

I checked shortly after I heard, 3 hrs. Later. Winds 340(runway is 15/33) @ 16-24, sounded like hot scenario, plus they were light, slight uphill on 15. At least they didn't try 15. There is a large hill just off threshold C/L to W, makes landing short more thrilling on 15. Sad they couldn't have been better prepared.

Wow. IR video of the crash.

Wow. With the blowing snow on the ground you can really see the tailwind they were working in.

Whoa, Looks like it was shedding the nose wheel or something just as it goes out of sight on camera 2!!
Sure did wang it hard on the first contact!!
Hot, long and down wind?? 3 out 3??
Glad to be watch and armchairing it than haven to had to land it!!

Wow. Is Aspen a one way strip? Or why come in with such a big tailwind?

A1Skinner wrote:Wow. Is Aspen a one way strip? Or why come in with such a big tailwind?

No, but it does have a 2% slope so they were landing downwind but uphill. 2% to makes an experienced light airplane pilot start to think but it is the legal limit for jets as is a 10 knot tailwind.
Back when the Dash7's were being operated to Aspen you would see them occasionally takeoff on 15 (uphill) or land on 33, but the wind had to be blowing pretty good.
This was a bad situation, a night go around if you are not very familiar with the airport would be problematic. There is a BIG mountain several miles off the end of the runway, a small ridge running parallel on the west side and a big ridge to the north. East you have the town of Aspen but it is also backed by mountains. You better have thought about what to do and breifed it in detail before even starting the approach. Of course with a 30 knot tailwind they should not have been there anyway.

Pitched down like crazy after going airborne again. Pilot Induced Oscillation?

A1Skinner wrote:Wow. Is Aspen a one way strip? Or why come in with such a big tailwind?

I think it's one way instrument approach, not sure if you can circle to land.

All of the instrument procedures at Aspen have very high MDAs--over 2000' AGL, so crappy weather makes it really difficult, day or night, but especially at night. That plus lack of familiarity with the airport and terrain makes it even more difficult. And I can't imagine trying to land with a 30 knot tailwind--much rather land downhill.

Cary

Poor guy on the bottom left in camera 4 mirrors my feelings exactly.

After the initial bounce and plane pitching up, when it pitched down again very quickly.. i was wondering if this was pilot input or if those planes have a stick pusher that pushed the nose down?