# NTSB DEN85FA062: Cessna 404, N2681B, Salt Lake City, UT, January 8, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 8, 1985, 06:27 local (13:27 UTC)
- Place: Salt Lake City, UT
- Location: 40.7884° N, 111.9778° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SALT LAKE CITY INTL (SLC), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7884&lon=-111.9778&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16522
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FA062
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16522/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA062

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system,ram air/induction air - blocked(partial) (cause)
  - anti-ice/deice system - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel system,ram air/induction air - ice (cause)
  - throttle/power control - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - ice/frost removal from aircraft - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - proper assistance - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - judgment - inaccurate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - ground (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - open field (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT DEPARTED RWY 34L AT SALT LAKE CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN IMC. THERE WAS MODERATE SNOWFALL AT THE TIME. THE PLT SAID THAT SHORTLY AFTER LIFING OFF, AT AN ALT OF APRX 200 FEET AGL, BOTH ENGINES BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. ALL ENG INSTRUMENTS WERE SAID TO BE NORMAL. THE PLT SAID HE APPLIED ALTERNATE AIR BUT OBSERVED NO CHANGE AND CLOSED HEM. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN LOSING ALT AND THE STALL WARNING HORN WAS SOUNDING. THE PLT MADE A GEAR-UP LANDING ABOUT 500 FEET TO THE RIGHT OF RWY CENTERLINE AND ABOUT 500 FEET BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF RWY 34L. BOTH ENGINES RAN SATISFACTORY DURING A POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION. FUEL SAMPLES TAKEN FROM BOTH FUEL TANKS DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF CONTAMINANTS OR WATER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2681B (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 404
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 404-0450
- Airframe hours: 33052
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-M2B 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Regional Express Co
- Registered owner: Charles F. Dickson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 21, 1984, 292 hours before
- Destination: IDA, IDAHO FALLS, ID
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR
- Airport: SLC, Salt Lake City Int'L, runway 34L, 12,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,341 total, 89 in this make and model, 3,196 as pilot in command, 129 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SLC

## 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 19850108000399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850108000399A), Jan 8, 1985: Cessna 404CESSNA, Salt Lake City, UT, Substantial damage. Both engines ran rough and lost power shortly after takeoff. Made emergency landing. Induction air icing suspect.

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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