# NTSB DEN85LA046: Cessna 401A, N365AA, Raton, NM, December 17, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 17, 1984, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Raton, NM
- Coordinates: 36.879169, -104.440032 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8792&lon=-104.4400&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16612
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16612/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA046

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - engine instruments,fuel flow gage - no pressure (contributing factor)
  - engine instruments,manifold pressure gage - loss,partial (contributing factor)
- Fire/explosion, cruise - normal
  - wing,skin - burned (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - landing gear,normal brake system - failure,total (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ABOUT 2 HRS AFTER DEPARTURE, AT 13,000 FT, THE RIGHT ENG FUEL FLOW WENT TO ZERO. THE ENG CONTINUED TO OPERATE INDICATING24 INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE. ALL OTHER INSTRUMENTS WERE NORMAL BUT WHAT LOOKED LIKE A BROWN STAIN DEVELOPED ON TOP OF THE RIGHT WING ALONG THE SPAR CAP NEAR THE TIP TANK. ARTCC WAS ADVISED THAT A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WOULD BE MADE AT RATON AND A RAPID DESCENT WAS BEGUN. ON FINAL THE RIGHT ENG NACELLE AND WING LOCKER TURNED BROWN. AS THE ACFT LANDED FLAMES APPEARED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE AND SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN. BOTH ENGS WERE SECURED AND BRAKES APPLIED. THE BRAKES WERE INOPERATIVE THEREFORE, THE PLT STEERED THE ACFT OFF THE RWY INTO A SNOW BANK COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR. WITHIN 15 MINS MOST OF THE WRECKAGE WAS CONSUMED BY THE FIRE. IGNITION SOURCE AND FIRE ORIGINATION POINT WERE NOT DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N365AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N365AA-1989-04-25), registration cancelled 1989-04-25, S/N 401A0047 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 401A
- Registry model: [Cessna 401A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-401a) (registry code 207590D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 401A0047
- Airframe hours: 47426
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-E 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Arrowhead Airways, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 7, 1984, 759 hours before
- Departed: LBF, NORTH PLATTE, NE
- Destination: ABQ, ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: RTN, Crews, runway 20, 5,550 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,256 total, 460 in this make and model, 3,971 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F

## 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 19841217075469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841217075469A), Dec 17, 1984: Cessna 401A, Raton, NM, Destroyed. Inflight fire, right nacelle and wing. Landed, evacuated. Airplane burned. Could not determine origin or cause.

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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