De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter crash, Dec 4, 1978 (2 killed)
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter accident on December 4, 1978 near Steamboat Springs-Bob Adams Colorado, United States with 2 fatalities. Cause: Severe...
- Date: December 4, 1978
- Aircraft: De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
- Location: Steamboat Springs-Bob Adams Colorado, United States
- Fatalities: 2
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Severe icing and strong downdrafts from a mountain wave exceeded the aircraft's ability to stay airborne. The captain also chose to fly into probable icing conditions that company directives did not authorize (NTSB-AAR-79-6).
On 4 December 1978 Rocky Mountain Airways Flight 217, a DHC-6 Twin Otter (N25RM), left Steamboat Springs for Denver and encountered severe icing after takeoff. It crashed into terrain at Buffalo Pass at about 10,530 feet. Two people died and 20 were injured. Rescuers reached the site the following morning.