# NTSB DEN86MA061: Cessna 425, N425SC, Granby, CO, January 11, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: January 11, 1986, 10:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: Granby, CO
- Coordinates: 40.079868, -105.930892 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0799&lon=-105.9309&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17060
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86MA061
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17060/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86MA061

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - go-around - initiated, pilot in command
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DRG ARRIVAL, THE PLT ADVISED ARTCC THAT THE DESTINATION ARPT APPEARED TO BE COVERED WITH FOG. SHE THEN CANCELED HER IFR FLT PLAN. ACCORDING TO GROUND WITNESSES, THE ACFT MADE SEVERAL PASSES OVER THE ARPT. WITNESSES ALSO RPRTD THAT THE HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY WAS NIL, BUT THEY COULD SEE BLUE SKY DIRECTLY ABOVE. DRG THE LAST PASS, THE ACFT CROSSED OVER THE APCH END OF THE RWY WITH THE GEAR & FLAPS EXTENDED, ANGLING TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY HDG. MOMENTS LATER, WITNESSES HEARD THE ENGS GO TO FULL POWER, THEN SILENCE FOLLOWED. THE ACFT WAS FND WHERE IT IMPACTED RISING SNOW COVERED TERRAIN APRX 1/8 MI SOUTH OF THE MIDPOINT OF THE ARPT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE ACFT WAS IN A STEEP DESCENDING, RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE WHEN IT CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N425SC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N425SC-2012-08-07), registration cancelled 2012-08-07, S/N 425-0126, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 425
- Registry model: [Cessna 425](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-425) (registry code 2076018) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 425-0126
- Airframe hours: 935
- Engines: P&W PT6A-112 450 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Jayhawk Aircraft Sales
- Registered owner: Silver Creek Development
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 12, 1985, 62 hours before
- Departed: HUT, HUTCHISON, KS
- Destination: GNB
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GNB, Granby-Grand Co, runway 27, 5,250 × 70 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,085 total, 156 in this make and model, 2,920 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm

## 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 19860111002459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860111002459A), Jan 11, 1986: Cessna 425, Granby, CO, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Circled the approach end of the runway twice in low ground fog. On the 3rd try,impacted a low hill south of runway.

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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