# NTSB DEN84FA089: Beech 58P, N6400E, Durango, CO, February 11, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 10, 1984, 19:27 local (Feb 11, 1984, 02:27 UTC)
- Place: Durango, CO
- Coordinates: 37.26929, -107.879127 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2693&lon=-107.8791&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): 16199
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA089
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16199/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA089

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, circling (ifr)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - minimum descent altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - snow covered

## Analysis

WHEN THE PLT CALLED THE FSS AT 1341 MST, HE STATED HE HAD ALREADY RECEIVED SOME 'REAL TIME' WX & REQUESTED ONLY THE WX AT DURANGO & FARMINGTON, NM. HE FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN TO DURANGO & TOOK OFF AT 1437. DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO GET INTO VFR CONDITIONS TO LAND AT PAGOSA SPRINGS, ABOUT 30 MI ENE OF DURANGO. HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE, SO HE CONTD TO THE FILED DESTINATION. AN ILS/DME RWY 2 APCH WAS MADE TO CIRCLE & LAND ON RWY 20 AT DURANGO. AT 1925:44, THE PLT RADIOED THAT HE HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT. THE AIRCREW OF SUNWEST FLT 204 SAW N6400E BREAK OUT IN THE CLEAR & ENTER A LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RWY 20. HOWEVER, THEY LOST SIGHT OF N6400E AS IT WAS ABEAM OF THE APCH END OF RWY 20. APRX 5 SEC LATER, THECOPLT OF FLT 204 SAW THE LIGHTS OF N6400E BREAK OUT OF THE CLOUDS, & APRX 1 SEC LATER, HE SAW 'A LARGE GREEN BALL OF FIRE.'  AN EXAM OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THE ACFT STRUCK A POWER LINE ABOUT 30 TO 35 FT AGL WHILE CONFIGURED FOR LANDING, THEN CRASHED. THE ELEV OF THE UNCONTROLLED ARPT WAS 6685 FT, THE CIRCLING MDA WAS 7100 FT. WND WAS GSTG 12 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6400E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6400E-1984-04-10), registration cancelled 1984-04-10, S/N TU-400 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 58P
- Registry model: [Beech 58P](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58p) (registry code 1152744) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TJ-400
- Airframe hours: 430
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-WB 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Merrill J. Anderson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 20, 1984, 20 hours before
- Departed: FGM, EDEN PRAIRIE, MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DRO, Durango-La Plata, runway 20, 9,200 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,819 total, 320 in this make and model, 1,659 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 200° at 5 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DRO, 1 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 19840210003709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840210003709A), Feb 10, 1984: Beech 58P, Durango, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Report indicates pilot lost control from a steep turn in marginal weather and no ground lights, circling to land.

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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