# NTSB DEN84FA030: Cessna 414, N7724N, Aurora, CO, November 23, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 22, 1983, 17:40 local (Nov 23, 1983, 00:40 UTC)
- Place: Aurora, CO
- Coordinates: 39.6594, -104.839447 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6594&lon=-104.8394&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16183
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA030
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16183/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA030

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, missed approach (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - decision height - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - underconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of recent instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - missed approach - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - wing - ice (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, missed approach (ifr)

## Analysis

DURING WX BRIEFINGS THE PLT WAS ADVISED OF ICING CONDITIONS IN THE DENVER AREA. WHILE APPROACHING THE DENVER AREA THE PLT RADIOED 'CAN YOU GET ME DOWN, IT'S A LITTLE BIT ICY UP HERE.' THE PLT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ASKED & WAS GIVEN A CLOSE TURN ONTO THE OUTER MARKER. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO OVERFLY THE ARPT AT ABOUT 500 FT AGL. THE PLT THEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE MISSED APPROACH INSTRUCTIONS, & 1 MIN LATER REPORTED ...'LOTS OF ICE...' & '...I'M STALLING OUT...' THE PLT REPORTLY DIDNOT LIKE TO FLY APPROACHES TO MINIMUMS & SET THE ALTITUDE ALERTER TO AN ALTITUDE ABOVE MINIMUMS AS A SAFETY MARGIN. THE PLT HAD LOGGED 3.5 HRS ACTUAL & 4.1 HRS SIMULATED INSTRUMENT TIME, & 3 INSTRUMENT APPROACHES IN THE LAST 6 MOS. THE ACFT'S CG WAS 6 INCHES AFT OF THE AFT CG LIMIT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N7724N (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 414
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 414-0436
- Airframe hours: 1862
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: William Geary
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 27, 1983, 63 hours before
- Departed: RNO, RENO, NV
- Destination: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: APA, Arapahoe County, runway 34R, 8,500 × 101 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,414 total, 1,862 in this make and model, 4,257 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 19 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19831122058349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831122058349A), Nov 22, 1983: Cessna 414, Aurora, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Picked up ice during descent, missed approach and spun out of clouds. Pilot not IFR current. No airframe deicers.

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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