# NTSB DEN90FA085: Cessna 421-C, N2655V, Boulder, CO, April 1, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 1, 1990, 15:40 local (21:40 UTC)
- Place: Boulder, CO
- Location: 40.0244° N, 105.2513° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Boulder, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0244&lon=-105.2513&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious; on the ground: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17825
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90FA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17825/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90FA085

## Probable cause

A LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL AS A RESULT CONTROL INTERFERENCE BY THE PASSENGER FOLLOWING A STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE PILOT AND THE PASSENGER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - control interference - intentional, passenger (cause)
  - psychological condition, passenger (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED FLYING ERRATICALLY AT A LOW ALTITUDE, THEN ENTER A LEFT WING, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE, IMPACTING THE GROUND IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. AUTOPSIES ON BOTH OCCUPANTS INCLUDED FINDINGS OF MASSIVE TRAUMATIC INJURIES SUSTAINED DURING A STRUGGLE. THE PASSENGER REPORTEDLY PLANNED TO TAKE HIS LIFE BY JUMPING OUT OF AN AIRPLANE OVER THE MOUNTAINS OF COLORADO BECAUSE HE BELIEVED HE HAD AN INOPERABLE BRAIN TUMOR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2655V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2655V-1990-05-02), registration cancelled 1990-05-02, S/N 421C0702 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421-C
- Registry model: [Cessna 421C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c) (registry code 2076016) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 532C0702
- Airframe hours: 4117
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520L 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Rocky Mountain Intensive, doing business as Air Care, Inc.
- Registered owner: Skyways Associates Partnership
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 4, 1990, 50 hours before
- Departed: GNB, GRANBY, CO
- Destination: DEN, DENVER, CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10,102 total, 528 in this make and model, 55 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BJC, 15 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 19900401006869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900401006869A), Apr 1, 1990: Cessna 421C, Boulder, CO, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Passenger intent on suicide struggled with pilot according to finding,causing pilot to lose control crash and burn.

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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