Swearingen SA226TC and Swearingen SA226TC accident near Denver, Colorado, March 5, 1999
On March 5, 1999 at about 1:03 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Swearingen SA226TC (N151SA) and Swearingen SA226TC (N328BA), 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 pilot of N328BA's failure to maintain visual lookout while taxiing, causing the subsequent collision with N151SA.
The pilot of N328BA's failure to maintain visual lookout while taxiing, causing the subsequent collision with N151SA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 1999 · about 1:03 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Denver International · 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 SA226TC · all SA226TCs on the register
- Registration
- N151SA · registry record · serial TC302
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Swearingen SA226TC · all SA226TCs on the register
- Registration
- N328BA · no longer on the register · serial TC-253
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Swearingen SA226TC final · quoted from the NTSB record
N328BA was partially deiced at the ramp when they ran out of deicing fluid. The pilot asked the ramp crew to meet him at the deicing pad on the south end of the airport to finish deicing the aircraft. The pilot received taxi clearance and instructions to hold short on the taxiway, and to contact ground control. Prior to reaching the taxiway hold short lines, he received clearance to taxiway to the runway. He then realized he had forgotten to advise ramp control that he needed to deice the aircraft. According to the pilot of N328BA, at that time, he looked up and noticed that N151SA was stopped in front of him. N328BA then impacted N151SA, striking the tail section of N151SA, causing substantial damage to the left side of the fuselage extending from the cargo door aft. The pilot of N328BA stated in a telephone interview that while taxiing, he performed a brake test and observed no discrepancies. Immediately following the accident, a brake test was performed in the presence of the IIC and two FAA inspectors. The brakes were found to be operational. Toxicological examinations were performed on both pilots and the results were negative.
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 SA226TC final · quoted from the NTSB record
SEE NARRATIVE FOR DEN99LA047A
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 SA226TC from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, 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: 2,806 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 29,876 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 4, 1999; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,062 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: CYS Cheyenne WY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from DEN, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Swearingen SA226TC from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,642 hours in all; 599 in this make and model; 2,229 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 26,210 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 22, 1999; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE 331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: RIF Rifle CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
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.
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.