▁data ▁rec order , ▁and ▁the ▁F AA ▁did ▁not ▁require ▁such ▁small ▁regional ▁aircraft ▁to ▁be ▁equ ipped ▁with ▁such ▁record ers ▁at ▁the ▁time . ▁After ▁the ▁accident , ▁the ▁F AA ▁mand ated ▁the ▁installation ▁of ▁flight ▁record ers ▁in ▁all ▁aircraft ▁operating ▁scheduled ▁fl ights . ▁ ▁Acc ident ▁Fl ight ▁ 2 2 8 6 ▁depart ed ▁Den ver ' s ▁St ap leton ▁International ▁Airport ▁at ▁ 1 8 : 2 0 ▁Mountain ▁Standard ▁Time ▁as ▁a ▁regularly ▁scheduled ▁flight ▁to ▁Dur ango – La ▁Pl ata ▁County ▁Airport . ▁ ▁A ▁total ▁of ▁ 1 5 ▁passengers ▁and ▁two ▁pil ots ▁were ▁on ▁board . ▁ ▁At ▁ 1 8 : 5 3 , ▁Fl ight ▁ 2 2 8 6 ▁reported ▁reaching ▁its ▁cru ising ▁alt itude ▁of ▁ 2 3 , 0 0 0 ▁feet . ▁ ▁Air ▁traffic ▁control ▁ad vised ▁Fl ight ▁ 2 2 8 6 ▁of ▁reduced ▁visibility ▁into ▁Dur ango , ▁with ▁a ▁ce iling ▁of ▁only ▁ 8 0 0 ▁feet ▁and ▁light ▁snow ▁and ▁fog ▁in ▁the ▁area . ▁ ▁At ▁ 1 9 : 0 0 , ▁controllers ▁asked ▁Fl ight ▁ 2 2 8 6 ▁whether ▁they ▁wanted ▁to ▁make ▁an ▁Inst rument ▁Land ing ▁System ▁( IL S ) ▁approach ▁to ▁Dur ango ' s ▁run way ▁ 2 , ▁or ▁a ▁non - prec ision ▁approach ▁to ▁Dur ango ' s ▁run way ▁ 2 0 . ▁From ▁Fl ight ▁ 2 2