# NTSB DEN84LA048: Cessna 421B, N768T, Aspen, CO, December 23, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 23, 1983, 09:12 local (16:12 UTC)
- Place: Aspen, CO
- Coordinates: 39.190147, -106.820014 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1901&lon=-106.8200&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16305
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84LA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16305/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA048

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE SNOW TO THE SIDE AND SHORT OF THE RWY DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND. THE PLT SAID THE ACFT WAS BLOWN OFF LINE AND HIS VISION WAS OBSCURED BY BLOWING SNOW. THE ACFT HIT REIL LIGHTS AND STOPPED 760 FT SHORT OF THE APPROACH END OF THE RWY. THE WEATHER WAS 3000 FT SCATTERED, ESTIMATED 4000 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 6 MILES IN LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS, WIND FROM 310 DEGREES AT 15 KTS. 30 MINUTES LATER WAS INDEFINITE CEILING 100 FT OBSCURED VISILBITY 2 MILES IN BLOWING SNOW AND FOG, WIND FROM 330 DEGREES AT 15 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N768T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N768T-1984-11-16), registration cancelled 1984-11-16, S/N 421B0935 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421B
- Registry model: [Cessna 421B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421b) (registry code 2076014) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 421B0935
- Airframe hours: 3137
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-H1 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Howard Calloway & Ralph Walton
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 1, 1983, 30 hours before
- Departed: SKX, TAOS, NM
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ASE, Aspen, runway 15, 7,003 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,938 total, 820 in this make and model, 5,586 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 18 °F, dew point 7 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ASE

## 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 19831223063679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831223063679A), Dec 23, 1983: Cessna 421B, Aspen, CO, Substantial damage. Landed in deep snow off side of runway. Struck a REIL light. Blowing snow and ice on windshield obscured vision.

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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