Beech 1900D accident near Denver, Colorado, October 2, 1994
On October 2, 1994, a Beech 1900D, registered N31YV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denver, Colorado. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 17 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE CAPTAIN'S INACCURATE EVALUATION OF WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND HIS DECISION TO FLY INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER. A FACTOR WAS THE HAIL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 1994
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 17 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 1900D · all 1900Ds on the register
- Registration
- N31YV · no longer on the register · serial UE-31
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE LEVEL 6 THUNDERSTORM PASSED OVER THE AIRPORT FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST, THE CAPTAIN ELECTED NOT TO TAKE OFF BECAUSE OF THE FALLING HAIL. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 30 MINUTES, THE FLIGHT TOOK OFF ON RUNWAY 35L. THE CAPTAIN REQUESTED A RIGHT TURN, AND WAS ASSIGNED A HEADING OF 080 DEGREES AND CLEARED TO CLIMB TO 20,000 FEET. THE AIRPLANE ENTERED THE OVERCAST AND ENCOUNTERED 'LIGHT HAIL.' AS IT TURNED ONTO ITS ASSIGNED HEADING, THE AIRBORNE WEATHER RADAR INDICATED HEAVY PRECIPITATION AHEAD. A REQUEST WAS MADE FOR A TURN FURTHER RIGHT. SUDDENLY, THE RIGHT WINDSHIELD SHATTERED, SENDING GLASS PARTICLES INTO THE FIRST OFFICER'S EYES. THE AIRPLANE IMMEDIATELY DESCENDED TO VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT, AND LANDED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,921 hours in all; 1,859 in this make and model; 266 in the last 90 days; 96 in the last 30 days; 4,786 as pilot in command; 1,940 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,723 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 26, 1994; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 14,000 lb
- Seats: 19
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A-67D (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DEN CO at 11:57 pm
- Destination: AMA Amarillo TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 23 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from DEN, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 16 |
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.