Cessna 421B N1974G
4 January 1992 · Steamboat Spgs, Colorado, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 4 January 1992 at about 23:06 local time, a Cessna 421B registered N1974G, operated by Cebco Aviation, Inc., was involved in an accident near Steamboat Spgs, Colorado, United States. 9 people were on board and 3 died, 4 were seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 23:06
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Steamboat Spgs, Colorado, United States
- Nearest airport
- Bob Adams (SBS)
- Coordinates
- 40.4691, -106.8210
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421B
- Registration
- N1974G
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Cebco Aviation, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Minneapolis
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN92FA024
People
3 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Probable cause
AIRFRAME ICE AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REMOVE IT. FACTORS WERE: AIRCRAFT WEIGHT EXCEEDED AND LACK OF PILOT CERTIFICATION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE INITIATING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE EIGHT PLACE AIRCRAFT WITH NINE PERSONS ABOARD, IMPACTED TERRAIN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. ICE HAD BEEN SEEN ON THE WINGS AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, AND ICING CONDITIONS WERE PRESENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT BY A MINIMUM OF 258 POUNDS, AND THE PILOT HELD AN EXPIRED STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE DATED AUGUST 17, 1984. A COPY OF A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE DESIGNATING MULTIENGINE LAND AND INSTRUMENT WAS FOUND IN THE PILOT'S PERSONAL BELONGINGS. FAA OFFICIALS CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS NOT A VALID CERTIFICATE. AN APPLICATION FOR A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE DATED MAY 30, 1991, INDICATED THE PILOT HAD 4,000 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME. THIS FIGURE COULD NOT BE VERIFIED. JUST PRIOR TO TAKEOFF THE PILOT WAS OBSERVED BRUSHING SNOW OFF THE WINGS. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT GRANULAR ICE WAS FOUND ON THE AERODYNAMIC SURFACES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 421 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Nov 1992 | Cessna 421C | Santa Maria, California, United States | Farroll Equipment Compnany | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 Jan 1992 | Cessna 421C | Mammoth Lakes, California, United States | Frank Gearhart | Fatal | 4 |
| 3 Jul 1992 | Cessna 421B | Hayward, California, United States | Professional Pilot Associates | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 1992 | Cessna 421B | Shelter Cove, California, United States | Dana L. Brenneman | Serious injuries | - |
| 24 Jun 1992 | Cessna 421B | Monterey, California, United States | Judith REA Enterprises | Fatal | 3 |
| 13 Jan 1992 | Cessna 421C | Atlantic Ocean | Williamson, J. M. | Fatal | 5 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Apr 1992 | Cessna 310-L | Hugo, Colorado, United States | Bell, Anthony H. | No injuries | - |
| 4 May 1992 | Boeing 757-222 | Denver, Colorado, United States | United Airlines | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Jul 1992 | Piper PA-34-200T | Lamar, Colorado, United States | Lyddon Flying Service | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 1992 | Embraer EMB-120 RT | Denver, Colorado, United States | Mesa Airlines, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jan 1992 | Cessna 152 | Falcon, Colorado, United States | Patrick Clayton | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jan 1992 | Cessna 172P | Englewood, Colorado, United States | P.c. Flyers, Inc. | No injuries | - |