Deadly plane crash at Aspen airport

[CitationNation]

A small plane crashed at Aspen/Pitkin County Airport in Colorado on Sunday, the Pitkin County Sheriff's office said.

One of the three people on board was killed, the sheriff's office told local media. The other two were injured and taken to hospital.

The comedian Kevin Nealon described seeing the crash on his Twitter account.

"Horrible plane crash here at Aspen airport," he wrote in one of several messages sent from the scene. "Exploded into flames as it was landing. I think it was a private jet."

LeAnn Rimes, the country singer, also took to Twitter to describe seeing what she also described as the "horrible" crash. "So sad!" she wrote.

According to the flight-tracking site FlightAware, the plane was a twin-engine 1994 Canadair Challenger, arriving after a two-hour flight from Tucson, Ariz.

Located in the Rocky Mountains about 300 kilometres west of Denver, Aspen is known for its ski resorts.

The airport has been closed due to the crash, which occurred at 12:30 MT, the Federal Aviation Administration said on its website.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/deadly-pla ... -1.2484978

[Keenflyer]

Since when is a Challenger a "Small plane"?

[Airmanship Police]

Since most people fly in a Boeing or an Airbus.

[hawker driver]

Why did they shoot the approach the second time when they just experienced a 33 kts tailwind a few minutes before???? Then was told he had a 16 kts On the tail the second attempt.

That approach should not have even been attempted, especially in Aspen.

Unbelievable !




Flightaware data show that Challenger N115WF arrived at Tucson International Airport, AZ (TUS) about 08:47 MST following a flight from Toluca (TLC), Mexico. The airplane then departed at 10:04 MST, bound for Aspen, CO.
Audio from the Aspen Tower frequency shows N115WF being cleared to land about 12:10 but the flight executed a missed approach: "Missed approach November one one five Wiskey Fox .. Thirty three knots of tailwind." Other flights had also reported low level windshear and a gain of 5-20 knots on approach.
Following the missed approach procedure, N115WF was again cleared to land about 12:20: "November one one five Wiskey Foxtrot wind three three zero at one six, runway one five cleared to land. One minute average three two zero, one four, gust two five." This clearance was confirmed by N115WF: "Roger one one five Wiskey Fox."
The FAA confirmed to ABC News that the airplane was a "Bombardier Challenger 600, coming from Tucson to Aspen".

The last automated weather report before the accident read:
KASE 051853Z 31009G28KT 270V360 9SM HZ FEW035 BKN046 OVC050 M11/M20 A3007 RMK AO2 PK WND 33028/1851 SLP243 T11111200 $
18:53 UTC (11:53 LT): Wind 310 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 28 knots; wind variable between 270 and 360 degrees; Visibility: 9 miles in haze; few clouds at 3500 feet AGL, broken clouds at 4600 feet AGL, overcast cloud deck at 5000 feet AGL; Temperature: -11°C, Dew point -20°C; pressure 30.07 inches Hg.

[pdw]

Is there an easy explanation why they wouldn't turn him around and land them the other way ?

[hawker driver]

Is there an easy explanation why they wouldn't turn him around and land them the other way ?

Aspen airport is at the bottom of a valley surrounded by mountains.
It is mostly a one way in/out for jets.

Landing south, takeoff north.

[Rudy]

Is there an easy explanation why they wouldn't turn him around and land them the other way ?

For once a crash is caused by variable tailwinds on final and this is your comment?

[xsbank]

10 knots max tailwind for a Challenger.

[Jet Jockey]

If the tailwind/windshear conditions hold true for a landing on RWY 15 then they had no business being there and trying a second time after their initial missed approach.

That airport is already a hole to start with, never mind having to deal with bad wx conditions, circlings (especially at night) or trying to land with a tailwind that exceeds the manufacturer's limits.

Our company policy for KASE is a "DAY VFR" operation only and with a 604 we take a minimum load out of there and go to Denver for a technical stop.

[hawker driver]

I am willing to bet that the pilots of those 5 aircraft that landed just before the accident will be getting calls from the the FAA to explain why they landed with 16 kt tailwinds.

[Jet Jockey]

I am willing to bet that the pilots of those 5 aircraft that landed just before the accident will be getting calls from the the FAA to explain why they landed with 16 kt tailwinds.

Possibly!

Perhaps some of those jets have a higher certified tailwind component allowed under their certification.

[frozen solid]

Is there an easy explanation why they wouldn't turn him around and land them the other way ?

For once a crash is caused by variable tailwinds on final and this is your comment?

[pdw]

Is there an easy explanation why they wouldn't turn him around and land them the other way ?

For once a crash is caused by variable tailwinds on final and this is your comment?

270V360 is right at the runway surface, and this tragedy appears to have happened somewhere along the runway.

The V here no longer represents "variable" (ie as in that common phrase "winds light and variable") after a certain wind-component / wind-speed is reached, and 270V360 is a whole ninety degrees which on this day included the reciprocal runway heading (340T).

V is VEERING in this context where "310@9G28kts" for landing 160T was already right crosswind tail-quartering 30degrees off the tail which as-advertised could abruptly switch to very hard from the right at "270"-160=110degrees, which is 20 degrees past perpendicular with "28kts" during a very high-speed arrival onto runway 15.

EDIT numerous times for variable grammar.
ps: have to wait for the report to see if this crash sequence starts while still on final ...

[flyinthebug]

edit!

[GyvAir]

edit! indeed!

[Axial Flow]

I only went in there once and it was a gorgeous day. Can't imagine shite weather. The following pictures show how insane of an approach it is into Aspen. The one from far away shows the airport just beyond the ridge to the bottom left. The other one is on short final. One way in and one way out. They were clearing planes to land as we were departing towards them. I think I would give up after one missed approach and land 15 minutes away in Eagle Colorado and have them drive.

Found one more picture to show the turn to final...

[EA757]

Approach Runway 15 Aspen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3i_MqqYSjg

[JigglyBus]

=
V is VEERING in this context...

No it isn't. Not at all. Not even a little.

It's varying from, as in 'varying from 270 to 360'. Reported only when greater than 60 degrees.

It could veer, and then back, and then veer again and so on.

[pdw]

Yes of course, that's what it is doing, it's VARYING.

[Beefitarian]

I am willing to bet that the pilots of those 5 aircraft that landed just before the accident will be getting calls from the the FAA to explain why they landed with 16 kt tailwinds.

Possibly!

Perhaps some of those jets have a higher certified tailwind component allowed under their certification.

Tragic. I wonder how much pressure to land comes from the people chartering those flights feeling their business was too important to wait for the weather to improve.

[pelmet]

Flew in there as a pax on a BA146 from Denver but it was nice and sunny. I remember that it was oversold and they were making several announcements at the gate in Denver about reported bad turbulence. After a nice smooth flight, I wondered if they were trying to scare people into waiting for a later flight so they wouldn't have to pay out bumped passengers.

It sure seemed to be pretty busy on that ATC transcript for a day with big tailwinds. Lots of guys in the runup area for departure. Is this normal for Aspen when the wind is like this?

[x-wind]

KASE elevation: 7,837ft

[jpilot77]

Pelmet: I believe due to the location of the airport at the end of a canyon, that jet landings and departures are done in opposite directions. So while landing these guys had tailwinds, but the guys taking off would have been into the wind.

[hawker driver]

I fly into Aspen about 10 to 12 times per years and over the last 15 years I have on many occasions had to divert to Rifle. 50 percent of the time it was clouds/vis the other was winds. We also have higher company impossed minimums.
Our company does special APG Sim training for Aspen which includes V1 cuts on hot days but never would they simulate 16 kt. tailwind since they would bust you in the Sim right away if you accepted the approach.
What I hate most is that when you are on your approach to 15 they clear another aircraft to depart on 33 and tell you look out for opposite direction traffic going through your altitude.
A steep decent surrounded by mountains and then you have opposite direction traffic, its just a matter of time before there is a mid air there as well.

[bizjets101]

VIDEO released from airport CCTV which captured the crash;

Click Here. 5 different CCTV cameras capture entire crash sequence.