# NTSB DEN90FA043: Cessna 208A, N835FE, Leadville, CO, January 17, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 17, 1990, 07:19 local (14:19 UTC)
- Place: Leadville, CO
- Coordinates: 39.239601, -106.289726 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2396&lon=-106.2897&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 21, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17816
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90FA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17816/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90FA043

## Probable cause

DIVERSION OF THE PILOT'S ATTENTION, RESULTING IN AN IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN DURING NORMAL CRUISE FLIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - autopilot - selected, pilot in command
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - light condition - daylight

## Analysis

PM AIR FLT 824, A FEDERAL EXPRESS SCHEDULED DOMESTIC CARGO FLT, DEPARTED DENVER, CO, AT 0642, IFR TO MONTROSE, CO. FLT WAS CLEARED TO FL 180, BUT PLT CANCELLED IFR AT 0653. RADAR SHOWED ACFT LEVELED OFF AT 14,500 FT ON SW HEADING. ACFT MAINTAINED RELATIVE CONSTANT ALT AND HEADING BEFORE CRASHING 50 FT BELOW SUMMIT OF 14,221-FT MT MASSIVE, SECOND TALLEST PEAK IN CO, AT APRX 0719. WX WAS CAVU. TOXICOLOGICAL TESTS REVEALED MARIJUANA METABOLITE LEVEL OF 37 NG/ML IN URINE AND 1 NG/ML IN BLOOD. PLT WAS ONCE CONVICTED IN 1974 FOR POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, BUT HAD NO OTHER ALCOHOL/DRUG CONVICTIONS. EVIDENCE INDICATES PLT OBTAINED ADEQUATE SLEEP PRIOR TO FLT. DURING AUTOPSY, TWO PAGES FROM AIRMEN'S INFORMATION MANUAL WERE FOUND CLUTCHED IN PLT'S HANDS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N835FE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N835FE-1990-05-18), registration cancelled 1990-05-18, S/N 20800091 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 208A
- Registry model: [Cessna 208A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208a) (registry code 2073703) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20800091
- Airframe hours: 2368
- Engines: P&W PT6A-114 600 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: P.M. Air, Inc., doing business as Federal Express
- Registered owner: Federal Express Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 25, 1989, 78 hours before
- Departed: DEN, DENVER, CO
- Destination: MTJ, MONTROSE, CO
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,800 total, 25 in this make and model, 2,600 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 16 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ASE, 18 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 19900117000689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900117000689A), Jan 17, 1990: Cessna 208A, Leadville, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck crest of mountain that may have been obscured by clouds or snowshowers. Had cancelled IFR. Trace marijuana.

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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