# NTSB DEN89FA056: Cessna 208B, N945FE, Aspen, CO, January 5, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 5, 1989, 07:39 local (14:39 UTC)
- Place: Aspen, CO
- Location: 39.2249° N, 106.8123° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from ASPEN-PITKIN COUNTY/SARDY FLD (ASE), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2249&lon=-106.8123&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17575
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89FA056
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17575/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89FA056

## Probable cause

PILOT'S IMPROPER IFR PROCEDURE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDED MODERATE TURBULENCE, LOW CEILINGS, OBSCURATION AND SNOW.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, missed approach (ifr)
  - weather condition - turbulence in clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, missed approach (ifr)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - object - tree(s)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N945FE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N945FE-1991-10-23), registration cancelled 1991-10-23, S/N 208B0046 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 208B
- Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 208B0046
- Airframe hours: 1041
- Engines: P&W PT6A-114 600 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: P. M. Air, Inc.
- Registered owner: Federal Express
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 10, 1988, 41 hours before
- Departed: DEN, DENVER, CO
- Destination: ASE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ASE, Aspen-Pitkin County, runway 15, 7,003 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,347 total, 322 in this make and model, 4,800 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dawn
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 900 ft
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ASE, 3 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 19890105000219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890105000219A), Jan 5, 1989: Cessna 208B, Aspen, CO, Destroyed. Struck trees on missed approach. Passenger,observer alleged PIC made improper control input and approach procedures

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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