# NTSB DEN85FA075: Cessna 421C, N6866K, Albuquerque, NM, February 11, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 11, 1985, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.149768, -106.58081 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1498&lon=-106.5808&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16526
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FA075
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16526/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA075

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - door,cargo/baggage - unlocked (contributing factor)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - gear retraction - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - initiated, pilot in command
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - throttle/power control - reduced, pilot in command
  - wrong propeller feathered - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS FLYING HIS WIFE & HER 4 FRIENDS TO ASPEN, CO FOR A SKI VACATION. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE RGT BAGGAGE DOOR OPENED. THEY OBSERVED THE ACFT TURN LEFT ONTO A DOWNWIND WITH THE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED. EIGHT WITNESSES REPORTED THE ENG(S) WERE PRODUCING POWER OF VARYING DEGREES; 2 STATED THE LEFT ENG STOPPED RUNNING & 2 REPORTED THE RGT ENG HAD A REDUCTION OF POWER OR RPM. IN THE VICINITY OF WHERE THE PLT WOULD HAVE MADE A BASE TURN, THE ACFT ENTERED A LEFT DESCENDING TURN, COLLIDED WITH THE TOPS OF TREES BESIDE A ROAD, IMPACTED IN THE ROADWAY ON AN EASTERLY HEADING, SLID TO A STOP & BURNED. AN EXAM REVEALED THE GEAR WAS DOWN, THE LEFT PROP WAS FEATHERED & THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE RGT BAGGAGE DOOR WAS OPEN. THE THROTTLE QUADRANT WAS FOUND WITH THE LEFT THROTTLE 2/3 FORWARD, THE RGT THROTTLE FULL AFT, THE LEFT PROP CONTROL IN THE FEATHER POSITION, THE RGT PROP CONTROL FULL FORWARD & THE MIXTURES AT ORNEAR THEIR FORWARD POSITIONS. THE FLT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ACFT WERE CONSIDERED NORMAL WITH THE BAGGAGE DOOR OPEN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6866K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6866K-1991-01-30), registration cancelled 1991-01-30, S/N 421C1076 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421C
- Registry model: [Cessna 421C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c) (registry code 2076016) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 421C1076
- Airframe hours: 1027
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-N 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Special Coating Systems, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 12, 1984, 301 hours before
- Destination: ASE, ASPEN, CO
- Airport: 4AC, Coronado, runway 35, 4,020 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABQ, 17 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 19850211002549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850211002549A), Feb 11, 1985: Cessna 421C, Albuquerque, NM, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Returning with open nose baggage door, left prop feathered, gear down. Banked left and nosed into trees and ground.

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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