# NTSB DEN88FA126: Cessna 404, N8827K, Denver, CO, June 10, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 10, 1988, 16:04 local (22:04 UTC)
- Place: Denver, CO
- Coordinates: 39.740901, -104.780166 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7409&lon=-104.7802&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 19, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17376
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88FA126
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17376/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88FA126

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - 1 engine
  - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - airspeed(vmc) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS ON A FLT FROM GREELEY TO DENVER, COLORADO TO OBTAIN MINOR MAINT ON A CARGO DOOR. AS THE ACFT WAS BEING VECTORED ON FINAL APCH, THE PLT RPRTD THAT HE BELIEVED THE ACFT HAD FUEL STARVATION. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVEDTO MAKE A COMPLETE ROLL & CRASH IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. ONLY ABOUT 1.5 GAL OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE RIGHT WING TANK. THE LEFT WING & FUEL TANK WERE DESTROYED, BUT NO ODOR OF FUEL WAS NOTED ON THE GROUND AROUND THE LEFT WING. ALSO, A LACK OF FUEL WAS NOTED IN THE FUEL LINES. THE ACFT HAD NOT BEEN REFUELED AFTER THE PREVIOUS FLT. THE PLT THAT HAD FLOWN THE ACFT ON A PREVIOUS FLT ESTIMATED THERE WAS 100 LBS OF FUEL REMAINING IN EACH TANK AFTER HIS FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8827K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8827K-2013-05-15), registration cancelled 2013-05-15, S/N 404-0424 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 404
- Registry model: [Cessna 404](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-404) (registry code 2075901) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4040424
- Airframe hours: 3486
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTISO-520-M 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Operator: Air Today, Inc.
- Registered owner: Chane Soon Phil
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 24, 1988, 39 hours before
- Departed: GXY, GREELEY, CO
- Destination: DEN
- Airport: DEN, Stapelton Intl, runway 26L, 10,004 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,400 total, 400 in this make and model, 1,200 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DEN, 1 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 19880610019839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880610019839A), Jun 10, 1988: Cessna 404CESSNA, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel on final in severe gust and turbulence from nearby storms. Stalled, rolled and crashed into trees.

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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