# NTSB DEN81FA025: Cessna 421B, N900E, Lafayette, CO, March 27, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 27, 1981
- Place: Lafayette, CO · LAFAYETTE, CO
- Location: 39.9948° N, 105.0997° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lafayette, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9948&lon=-105.0997&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 17, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126565
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FA025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FA025

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3540  81/3/27    LAFAYETTE,CO        CESSNA 421B         CR-  2  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 43, 2000
        TIME - 1415                    N900E               PX-  0  0  0  TEST                      TOTAL HOURS, 68 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TRI COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAFAYETTE,CO                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: CYLINDER ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNAPPROVED MODIFICATION
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: PISTON,PISTON RINGS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - WRONG PART
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: VALVE ASSEMBLIES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LEAK/LEAKAGE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVER TORQUED
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      62
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       30
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- DRG TEST FLT AFT MAINT ON R ENG,ACFT ENTERED R ROLL & CRASHED. 1 WITNESS RPRTD SMK FM ENG.GST 40KT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N900E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N900E-1983-08-16), registration cancelled 1983-08-16, S/N 421B0359 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421B
- Registry model: [Cessna 421B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421b) (registry code 2076014) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Tri County

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810327012839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810327012839A), Mar 27, 1981: Cessna 421B, Erie, CO, Destroyed. Engine power loss on climbout. Severe turbulence, lost control. Engine had improper maintenance. Water in fuel.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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