# NTSB DEN83FA059: Cessna 340A, N33340, Aspen, CO, February 15, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 15, 1983, 08:13 local (15:13 UTC)
- Place: Aspen, CO
- Coordinates: 39.189941, -106.82035 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1899&lon=-106.8204&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15971
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FA059
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15971/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FA059

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr procedures - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, climb - to cruise
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

PRIOR TO DEPARTURE THE FLT WAS GIVEN AN IFR CLEARANCE WHICH BEGAN AT HERLS INTERSECTION (16 MI NNE) & TO CROSS HERLS AT OR ABOVE 16,000 FT MSL. DEPARTURE ARPT FIELD ELEV IS 7,793 FT. FLTS ARE REQUIRED TO PROCEED VFR TO THE INITIAL FIX OF THE IFR CLEARANCE. AFTER TAKEOFF THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED HEADING NE TOWARD THE MOUNTAINS. ACFT DEPARTING ASPEN USUALLY FLYA NORTHERN HEADING, THEN TURN NE AFTER CLEARING THE MOUNTAINS. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE WEATHER WAS GOOD IN THE VALLEY NORTH OF THE ARPT, BUT THE MOUNTAIN TOPS EAST OF THE ARPT WERE OBSCURED BY LOW CLOUDS. THE ACFT CRASHED 3-1/2 MI NE OF THE ARPT AT THE 9,000 FT LEVEL OF AN 11,000 FT MOUNTAIN. THE LAST TIME THE PLT HAD FLOWN INTO ASPEN WAS IN 1980.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N33340](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33340-2013-11-04), registration cancelled 2013-11-04, S/N 340A0529, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 340A
- Registry model: [Cessna 340A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340a) (registry code 2076405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 340A0529
- Airframe hours: 724
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-N 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert M. Mccormick
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1982
- Destination: 4CO, SOUTH BEND, IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ASE, Sardy Field, runway 33, 6,001 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,193 total, 2,624 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ASE, 3 nm away

## 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 19830215004029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830215004029A), Feb 15, 1983: Cessna 340A, Aspen, CO, Destroyed, 2 fatal. After takeoff aircraft entered clouds and crashed at 9000 ft. level of 11110 ft mountain.

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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