Rockwell 112B accident near Nederland, Colorado, March 18, 1991
On March 18, 1991 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Rockwell 112B, registered N1241J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nederland, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
DETERIORATED IGNITION HARNESS AND IGNITION LEAD ARCING. FACTORS WERE THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 1991 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Nederland, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell 112B
- Registration
- N1241J · no longer on the register · serial 504
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A MOUNTAIN PASS, THE PILOT NOTICED DECREASING ENGINE MANIFOLD PRESSURE. UNABLE TO CLEAR HIGHER TERRAIN, HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN DEEP SNOW. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE RIGHT IGNITION HARNESS WAS DETERIORATED AND THE IGNITION LEADS HAD ARCED. THE LEFT IGNITION HARNESS (SLICK 1200 SERIES) HAD BEEN ALTERED WITH THE USE OF UNAPPROVED BENDIX 'PANCAKE' GROMMETS. THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN 129 HRS SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION. CONDITIONS PREVENTED RECOVERY OF THE WRECKAGE UNTIL 6/27/91. TOTAL TIME ON THE ENGINE WAS 1,714 HRS. RECOMMENDED OVERHAUL INTERVAL WAS 1,800 HRS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,241 hours in all; 317 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 7,129 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1D6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BJC Broomfield CO at 7:30 pm
- Destination: SBS Steamboat Sprin CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:45 pm from SBS, 65 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.