Swearingen SA-226T accident near Rifle, Colorado, July 21, 2004
On July 21, 2004 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Swearingen SA-226T, registered N84GA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rifle, Colorado (Rifle-Garfield County Regional). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the aborted takeoff resulting in the airplane departing the runway and striking a runway light and two taxiway signs. Factors contributing to the accident were the broken sensor wire to the left engine's Continuous Alcohol Water Injection System, the misrigged power levers, the runway light ,and the signs.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2004 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Rifle, Colorado · Rifle-Garfield County Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Swearingen SA-226T · all SA-226Ts on the register
- Registration
- N84GA · registry record · serial 312
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that because of the high density altitude, he wanted to do a CAWI (Continuous Alcohol Water Injection) takeoff. At the end of the runway, the pilot brought up the engine power. The pilot said that the right engine came up to 100 percent torque immediately, but the left engine hesitated at 75 percent torque. The pilot said he gave the left engine more power lever and the torque came up to 85 to 90 percent. The pilot began his takeoff roll. At approximately 70 knots, the left engine "surged down" to 70 to 75 percent torque, and the airplane went sharply left of runway centerline. The pilot said he shouted "abort takeoff" and got the airplane aligned with the runway again. The pilot said he told the copilot to turn off the CAWI pumps. The airplane had slowed to 40 knots. The pilot said as he "initiated the power levers to idle and over the gates into the BETA range, the airplane again surged sharply to the left. The pilot said that he and the copilot applied "hard right rudder" to straighten the airplane. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, striking two taxiway signs and a light, and causing substantial damage to the airplane's pressure vessel, the nose gear doors, and the left propeller. A post-accident examination of the left engine showed a sensor wire to the CAWI system was broken. Additionally, it was discovered that the right engine was misrigged causing a delay when the engine was placed in reverse thrust.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,580 hours in all; 541 in this make and model; 140 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 23,491 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 9, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,354 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 793 as pilot in command; 700 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 27, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Garrett TPE 331-10U (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Garrett TPE 331-10U (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RIL Rifle CO at 7:45 pm
- Destination: ARA Lafayette LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 26, 7,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 7:21 pm from RIL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.