Beech E-90 accident near Kremmling, Colorado, March 20, 2003
On March 20, 2003 at about 2:30 am local time, a Beech E-90, registered N711TZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kremmling, Colorado (Kremmling-Mcelroy Field). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper in-flight planning and his failure to maintain safe clearance from the high terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were the high terrain and the dark night.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 2003 · about 2:30 am local time · cases in 2003
- Place
- Kremmling, Colorado · Kremmling-Mcelroy Field · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E-90 · all E-90s on the register
- Registration
- N711TZ · registry record · serial LW226
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he maneuvered for a left hand downwind leg for landing from the east to west. The pilot set up his downwind leg at 8,400 feet mean sea level putting him at what would have been 1,000 feet above the airport elevation of 7,411 feet. The pilot reported it was very dark and he could see the airport, but could not see the terrain. The pilot reported that suddenly he saw the ground. The airplane impacted the terrain and came to rest. The pilot reported that the airplane was experiencing no malfunctions prior to the accident. The airplane accident site was on the snow-covered edge of a mountain ridge at an elevation of 8,489 feet. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. Published terminal procedures for the runway indicated high terrain of 8,739 feet south-southeast of the airport. The published airport diagram for the airport directs right traffic for the pattern to runway 27.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 10,564 hours in all; 212 in this make and model; 64 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 9,629 as pilot in command; 1,654 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 17, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,040 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 6, 2002; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-28 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-28 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GJT Grand Junction CO at 1:48 am
- Destination: 20V Kremmling CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 5,540 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 010° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,300 ft; a few clouds at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:32 am from LXV, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N711TZ on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft E-90 King Air E90 146 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-28 13 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-28 13 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- MC Elroy Airfield · nearest airport
- Grand Junction Regional · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 383 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,485 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN03LA053.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.