# NTSB DEN90FA068: Cessna 208A, N820FE, Denver, CO, February 28, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 27, 1990, 19:47 local (Feb 28, 1990, 02:47 UTC)
- Place: Denver, CO
- Coordinates: 39.760444, -104.919776 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7604&lon=-104.9198&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17823
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90FA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17823/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90FA068

## Probable cause

THE ACCUMULATION OF STRUCTURAL ICE AND SUBSEQUENT STALLING OF THE AIRCRAFT.  THE ICING CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - weather condition - drizzle/mist (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - wing - ice (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - stall - inadvertent (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE CESSNA 208A WAS ON AN IFR FLT TO HAUL FREIGHT FROM ASPEN TO DENVER, COLORADO.  MODERATE TO HEAVY ICING CONDITIONS WERE FORECAST FOR THE DENVER AREA.  WHILE ON AN ILS RWY 36 APCH, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED ICING CONDITIONS.  SUBSEQUENTLY, IT ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT & CRASHED ABOUT 3 MI FROM THE APCH END OF THE RWY.  NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.  THE 1950 MST WX AT THE ARPT WAS IN PART:  800' SCATTERED, 1000' BROKEN, VIS 4 MI WITH FREZZING DRIZZLE & SNOW SHOWERS, TEMP 28 DEG, DEW POINT 25 DEG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N820FE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N820FE-1990-06-06), registration cancelled 1990-06-06, S/N 20800043 (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: 2080043
- Airframe hours: 3227
- Engines: P&W PT6A-114 600 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: P. M. Air, Inc.
- Registered owner: Federal Express
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 25, 1990, 47 hours before
- Departed: ASE, ASPEN, CO
- Destination: DEN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DEN, Stapleton Intl, runway 36, 7,750 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,800 total, 70 in this make and model, 3,345 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 30° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DEN, 4 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 19900227002919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900227002919A), Feb 27, 1990: Cessna 208A, Denver, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Encountered severe icing on IFR approach. Stalled and spun into residence yard. Ice exceeded deicing capability.

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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