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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

March 29, 1991 · Cessna 421C · N3851C

Cortez, CO

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 29, 1991
Injury Outcomes
5 injuries (5 fatalities)
Location
Cortez, CO
Aircraft
Cessna 421C
Tail Number
N3851C
Operator
George Mehl
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DEN91FA056

The flight departed without a flight plan or weather brief. En route, deteriorating weather was encountered and an IFR flight plan was filed to a revised destination. Clearance was received for a VOR approach and the pilot was advised of 1/2 mile visibility in snow and fog. A missed approach was reported over the UNICOM frequency. Impact occurred with a heading of about 170 degrees at 7,700 feet MSL in mountainous terrain on the 173 degree radial, 7.3 miles from the VOR. The inbound course to the final approach fix was 170 degrees with an inbound final approach course of 196 degrees. Airport elevation was 5,914 feet MSL. The airport was located on the 196 degree radial, 5.5 miles from the VOR final approach fix. The VOR approach to runway 21 called for a missed approach to be executed at 5.5 DME from the VOR and a minimum descent altitude of 6,600 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IFR PROCEDURES. FACTORS WERE: THE EXISTING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A PREFLIGHT BRIEFING.

Full Narrative

THE FLIGHT DEPARTED WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN OR WEATHER BRIEF. EN ROUTE DETERIORATING WEATHER WAS ENCOUNTERED AND AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED TO A REVISED DESTINATION. CLEARANCE WAS RECEIVED FOR A VOR APPROACH AND THE PILOT WAS ADVISED OF 1/2 MILE VISIBILITY IN SNOW AND FOG. A MISSED APPROACH WAS REPORTED OVER THE UNICOM FREQUENCY. IMPACT OCCURRED WITH A HEADING OF ABOUT 170 DEGREES AT 7,700 FEET MSL IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN ON THE 173 DEGREE RADIAL, 7.3 MILES FROM THE VOR. THE INBOUND COURSE TO THE FINAL APPROACH FIX WAS 170 DEGREES WITH AN INBOUND FINAL APPROACH COURSE OF 196 DEGREES. AIRPORT ELEVATION WAS 5,914 FEET MSL. THE AIRPORT WAS LOCATED ON THE 196 DEGREE RADIAL, 5.5 MILES FROM THE VOR FINAL APPROACH FIX. THE VOR APPROACH TO RUNWAY 21 CALLED FOR A MISSED APPROACH TO BE EXECUTED AT 5.5 DME FROM THE VOR AND A MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE OF 6,600 FEET.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:25 MST
Nearest AirportCortez-Montezuma County (0nm N)
Runway21
Runway Length7105 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 421C
Tail NumberN3851C
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorGeorge Mehl
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · GTSIO-520-L · Reciprocating · 375
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury Summary5 injuries (5 fatalities)
Fatal5
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total5
Crew 1Age 42 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind330° @ 12 kt, gusting 25 kt
Ceiling800 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data