Swearingen SA226-TC and Swearingen SA227-AC accident near Denver, Colorado, December 3, 2003
On December 3, 2003 at about 12:55 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Swearingen SA226-TC (N60U) and Swearingen SA227-AC (N340AE), were involved in the same accident near Denver, Colorado (Denver International Airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot of the taxiing aircraft to maintain clearance and adequate visual lookout for the stopped aircraft.
the failure of the pilot of the taxiing aircraft to maintain clearance and adequate visual lookout for the stopped aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 3, 2003 · about 12:55 pm local time · cases in 2003
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Denver International Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Swearingen SA226-TC · all SA226-TCs on the register
- Registration
- N60U · no longer on the register · serial TC-323
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Swearingen SA227-AC · all SA227-ACs on the register
- Registration
- N340AE · no longer on the register · serial AC-510
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Swearingen SA226-TC final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident involved 2 Swearingen airplanes. The pilot of the first airplane reported that he had taxied north for departure. There were several company aircraft in front of him in line for departure so he came to a complete stop. The pilot of the second airplane reported that he was also taxiing north for departure. He had seen the lights from an aircraft holding short of runway 17R; however, he did not see the lights of the first airplane until it was too late. The pilot of the second airplane reported he applied full brakes and used reverse thrust but was unable to avoid hitting the first airplane. Both airplanes were substantially damaged.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Swearingen SA227-AC final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident involved 2 Swearingen airplanes. The pilot of the first airplane reported that he had taxied north for departure. There were several company aircraft in front of him in line for departure so he came to a complete stop. The pilot of the second airplane reported that he was also taxiing north for departure. He had seen the lights from an aircraft holding short of runway 17R; however, he did not see the lights of the first airplane until it was too late. The pilot of the second airplane reported he applied full brakes and used reverse thrust but was unable to avoid hitting the first airplane. Both airplanes were substantially damaged.
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 for the Swearingen SA226-TC from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,285 hours in all; 168 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 8, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 25,932 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 23, 2003; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Aero Engines TPE-331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Honeywell TPE-331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DEN Denver CO at 12:50 pm
- Destination: GCK Garden City KS
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 170° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from DEN, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Swearingen SA227-AC from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 209 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days; 2,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 14, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 29,615 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 21, 2003; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 14,600 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Honeywell TPE-331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Honeywell TPR-331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DEN Denver CO at 12:50 pm
- Destination: DRO Durango CO
- Flight plan: IFR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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
- N60U: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Swearingen SA-226 48 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Swearingen 88 aircraft on the register
- N340AE: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Swearingen SA227 31 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Swearingen 88 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Aero Engines TPE-331 · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Honeywell TPE-331 27 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Denver International · nearest airport
- Garden City Regional · bound for
- Durango-La Plata County · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 383 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,483 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN04FA027.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.