Beech 58 accident near Castle Rock, Colorado, June 21, 1996
On June 21, 1996 at about 8:48 pm local time, a Beech 58, registered N94ZR, was destroyed in an accident near Castle Rock, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient altitude and/or clearance from terrain, while reversing course to exit adverse weather conditions. Factors relating to the accident were: the adverse weather conditions (thunderstorm, low ceiling and reduced visibility), the pilot's inaccurate weather evaluation, and his inadvertent flight into known adverse weather conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1996 · about 8:48 pm local time
- Place
- Castle Rock, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N94ZR · no longer on the register · serial TH-1709
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on a VFR crosscountry flight, the pilot flew into IFR conditions and an area of severe weather after Air Traffic Control had advised him of adverse weather. The airplane was equipped with digital color weather radar, and at one point, the pilot stated to the controller that he saw the weather on his radar. After entering the weather, the pilot attempted to reverse course. The airplane impacted the ground shortly after the pilot reversed course. The pilot was IFR qualified, but had only recorded 11 hours of actual instrument time.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 490 hours in all; 270 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 286 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 259 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 1996
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ Albuquerque NM at 7:02 pm
- Destination: APA Englewood CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 24 knots, gusting 27
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:07 pm from USA, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.