# NTSB DEN92FA024: Cessna 421B, N1974G, Steamboat Spgs, CO, January 4, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 4, 1992, 16:06 local (23:06 UTC)
- Place: Steamboat Spgs, CO
- Coordinates: 40.469093, -106.820976 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4691&lon=-106.8210&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 4 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18144
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN92FA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18144/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN92FA024

## Probable cause

AIRFRAME ICE AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REMOVE IT.  FACTORS WERE:  AIRCRAFT WEIGHT EXCEEDED AND LACK OF PILOT CERTIFICATION.

## Analysis

WHILE INITIATING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE EIGHT PLACE AIRCRAFT WITH NINE PERSONS ABOARD, IMPACTED TERRAIN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF.  ICE HAD BEEN SEEN ON THE WINGS AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, AND ICING CONDITIONS WERE PRESENT.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT BY A MINIMUM OF 258 POUNDS, AND THE PILOT HELD AN EXPIRED STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE DATED AUGUST 17, 1984.  A COPY OF A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE DESIGNATING MULTIENGINE LAND AND INSTRUMENT WAS FOUND IN THE PILOT'S PERSONAL BELONGINGS. FAA OFFICIALS CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS NOT A VALID CERTIFICATE. AN APPLICATION FOR A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE DATED MAY 30, 1991, INDICATED THE PILOT HAD 4,000 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME.  THIS FIGURE COULD NOT BE VERIFIED. JUST PRIOR TO TAKEOFF THE PILOT WAS OBSERVED BRUSHING SNOW OFF THE WINGS. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT GRANULAR ICE WAS FOUND ON THE AERODYNAMIC SURFACES.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - wing,skin - ice (cause)
  - ice/frost removal from aircraft - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - qualification, unqualified person (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1974G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1974G-1993-02-19), registration cancelled 1993-02-19, S/N 421B0862 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421B
- Registry model: [Cessna 421B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421b) (registry code 2076014) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 421B0862
- Airframe hours: 2916
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-H 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cebco Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Cebco Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 1991, 7 hours before
- Destination: ANE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SBS, Bob Adams, runway 32, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,000 total, 50 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft
- Temperature: 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBS, 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 19920104000139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920104000139A), Jan 4, 1992: Cessna 421B, Steamboat Spgs, CO, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Lifted but unable to climb. Impact off end runway in gully. Ice on airframe. Over gross weight. No pilot ratings.

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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