Investigation Summary
The flight was a scheduled commuter service from Denver to Durango. During the approach, Captain Stephen Silver chose a non-precision VOR/DME approach to Runway 20 instead of a longer ILS approach to Runway 02 to save approximately ten minutes. He assigned First Officer Ralph Harvey to fly the approach. To reach the required altitude for the shortcut, the crew initiated a descent rate exceeding 3,000 feet per minute, more than triple the standard rate. The aircraft was not equipped with a Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS), Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), or Flight Data Recorder (FDR), as they were not required for regional aircraft at the time. Post-mortem toxicology discovered cocaine and its metabolites in Captain Silver's system. The NTSB determined that the drug use likely caused a 'post-cocaine crash,' characterized by fatigue and degraded judgment, which prevented him from effectively monitoring the First Officer's unstable approach.
Final Conclusions
The NTSB issued its final report on February 4, 1989. The probable cause was the first officer's flying and the captain's ineffective monitoring of an unstabilized approach which resulted in a descent below the published descent profile. Contributing to the accident was the degradation of the captain's performance resulting from his use of cocaine before the accident.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
The Shocking Truth Behind the Trans-Colorado 2286 Flight Crash — On January 19, 1988, Trans-Colorado Airlines Flight 2286 crashed into the snowy mountains near Durango, Colorado. The investigation revealed pilot misconduct and drug use.
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Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Stephen S. Silver, age 36. Joined Trans-Colorado in 1986. Had a history of traffic violations and a previous 1983 crash. Toxicology found traces of cocaine and metabolites.
First Officer
Ralph D. Harvey, age 42. Joined Trans-Colorado in 1987. Had a history of alcohol abuse and failed competency checks. Toxicology for this event was negative for alcohol and drugs.
Systems & Failure Modes
Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS)
The aircraft was not equipped with GPWS, which would have provided an automated auditory alert as the plane descended dangerously close to the terrain.
Flight Recorders
The lack of CVR and FDR forced investigators to rely on radar data and survivor testimony to reconstruct the flight path and cockpit environment.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a Fairchild Metro III manufactured in 1981.
- 02Traces of cocaine and its metabolites were found in Captain Silver's blood and urine.
- 03The aircraft lacked both a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and a Flight Data Recorder (FDR).
- 04Eight people survived the crash, including a 23-month-old baby.
- 05The First Officer had a history of failed competency checks and a revoked instrument rating that was later regained.
- 06Captain Silver had survived a previous crash in 1983 involving a Cessna 182, which the NTSB attributed to pilot error.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Mandatory Flight Recorders
Following the accident, the FAA mandated the installation of flight recorders in all aircraft operating scheduled flights, regardless of size.
Pilot Drug Testing
The discovery of cocaine use by the captain contributed to the implementation of federal random drug testing for commercial pilots.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Implementation of Random Drug Testing
Reference ↗The discovery of cocaine in Captain Silver's system became a primary catalyst for the FAA to implement mandatory random drug testing for commercial pilots. This was controversial at the time and remains a subject of debate regarding pilot privacy versus public safety.