# NTSB DEN88FA014: Cessna 340A, N4132G, Bailey, CO, October 21, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 21, 1987, 11:35 local (17:35 UTC)
- Place: Bailey, CO
- Coordinates: 39.399837, -105.469512 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3998&lon=-105.4695&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 13, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17338
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88FA014
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17338/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88FA014

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - turbulence,clear air (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - contamination (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - powerplant - failure,partial
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - powerplant - failure,total
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN DURING VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE PILOT HAD BEEN IN VOICE AND RADAR CONTACT WITH AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR. THE PILOT REPORTED SEVERE TURBULENCE AND A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE TO ATC AS HE WAS NEARING A MOUNTAIN PASS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE WAS DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE PILOT HAD SAID THE FUEL HAD CONTAINED ALOT OF WATER. THE PILOT REPORTED TO ATC THAT HE HAD JUST LOST THE ENGINE AND HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE IT THROUGH A SADDLE. A SIGMET HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THAT REGION AND THE SEVERE TURBULENCE WAS CONFIRMED BY ANOTHER PILOT. ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4132G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4132G-2012-11-19), registration cancelled 2012-11-19, S/N 340A0303 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 340A
- Registry model: [Cessna 340A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340a) (registry code 2076405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 340A0303
- Airframe hours: 2146
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520N 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Harmon, James M., doing business as Harmon Ranch
- Registered owner: James Munson Harmon
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 17, 1987, 95 hours before
- Departed: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO
- Destination: BUENA VISTA, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,809 total, 364 in this make and model, 4,342 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DEN, 38 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 19871021080309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871021080309A), Oct 21, 1987: Cessna 340A, Bailey, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Engine quit in severe turbulance. Collided with a dense,tree covered mountain. Pilot suspected contaminated fuel.

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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