- Date
- May 26, 1984, 14:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place
- Paonia, CO
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6231XCessna 340A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19840526023149A
- Case key
- 16217
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that at about 200 ft (AGL) on initial climb from takeoff, a complete power loss was experienced on the left engine. He stated the left propeller was feathered, but the aircraft would not hold altitude at recommended single-engine speed during a gradual turn back to the airport, necessitating a forced landing attempt on a paved road. After touchdown, the aircraft departed the hard surface, crossed an embankment and came to rest in a field. Investigation revealed no malfunction or failure in the left engine. Investigation further found the left prop control in high pitch vs feather and the fuel selectors on auxiliary tanks, contrary to aircraft flight manual instructions. The manufacturer states that takeoff on aux tanks with 10 gals can unport the engine feed port. The pilot stated he switched both engines to aux tanks during attempt to recover power.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6231X
- Reported as
- Cessna 340A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 340A0432
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-NB, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- R. D. Hagerman
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 26, 1983 · 67 hours before
- Departed
- 7V2 · Paonia, CO
- Destination
- 0V2 · Salida, CO
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,353 total · 440 in this make and model · 2,205 as pilot in command · 80 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °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.