# NTSB DEN88FA050: Cessna T303, N9565T, Kiowa, CO, January 12, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 11, 1988, 20:10 local (Jan 12, 1988, 03:10 UTC)
- Place: Kiowa, CO
- Coordinates: 39.340938, -104.460594 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3409&lon=-104.4606&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17347
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88FA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17347/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88FA050

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - snow covered

## Analysis

THE PLT OBTAINED TWO WX BRIEFINGS AND FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN TO EL PASO, TX.  HE WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. THE ACFT DEPARTED APA AT 1959 AND DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR AT 2010. THE CRASH SITE WAS 11- 1/2 MI SE OF THE KIOWA VORTAC AND 36 MI SE OF APA. RADAR SHOWED A 15-MI WIDE BAND OF SNOW SHOWERS SE OF THE KIOWA VORTAC. GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. PLT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE STATED, 'NOT VALID FOR NIGHT FLIGHT OR BY COLOR CONTROL.' PLT AUTOPSY ALSO DISCLOSED 'MYXOMATOUS ALTERATION OF THE MITRAL VALVE, CONSISTENT WITH MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE (FLOPPY MITRAL VALVE).'

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9565T (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T303
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T30300027
- Airframe hours: 1070
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-AE 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Amspray Sales Corporation
- Registered owner: Amspray Sales Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 28, 1987
- Departed: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO
- Destination: ELP, EL PASO, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,550 total, 42 in this make and model, 4,470 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 270° at 20 knots, gusting 40

## 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 19880111000449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880111000449A), Jan 11, 1988: Cessna T303, Kiowa, CO, Destroyed, 2 fatal. VFR pilot on a IFR flight in clouds and heavy snowshowers at dark night. Crashed out of control. Had a bad heart.

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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