Cessna 414A accident near Ashland, Missouri, January 23, 2014
On January 23, 2014 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1979 Cessna 414A, registered N414CJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Ashland, Missouri (Columbia Rgnl airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The in-flight failure of both engines due to water contamination.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 2014 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ashland, Missouri · Columbia Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 414A, built 1979 · all 414As on the register
- Registration
- N414CJ · no longer on the register · serial 414A0432
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during the descent to the destination airport, the airplane's left engine experienced a partial loss of power and that he attempted to troubleshoot the issue. Unable to restore the engine power, he secured the left engine, feathered the propeller, and advised air traffic control of the situation. Shortly after, the right engine experienced a partial loss of power and eventually only produced idle power. Unable to reach the destination airport, the pilot conducted a forced landing to a field. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed ice buildup in the fuel manifold valves, the fuel strainer bowls, and the fuel strainer screens. The left fuel strainer bowl contained a 1 3/8-inch thick piece of ice. Fuel samples from both of the airplane's fuel tanks and from the fuel supplier at the airport used to the fuel the airplane earlier in the day were tested, and no water contamination was found; the source of the water contamination could not be determined. It is likely that the loss of engine power resulted from water contamination and subsequent ice buildup in the fuel system.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (descent)
- Landing gear not configured during landing
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Hard landing during landing
- Fuel contamination during enroute (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,000 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 9,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 23, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 15, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 7,087 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental Motors TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental Motors TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Alelco INC
The flight
- Departed from: CBF Council Bluffs IA at 7:26 pm
- Destination: JEF Jefferson City MO
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 14°F (-10°C), dew point -8°F (-22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.70 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from KCOU, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
11 documents, released by the NTSB on April 15, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Email - Fuel Samples | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statement - Council Bluffs FBO | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | NTSB Email | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | On Scene Summary - Continental Motors | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Revisions to Factual Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photo 1. Ice from Right Fuel Strainer Bowl (Photo Courtes of Continental Motors) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Photo 2. Ice from Left Fuel Strainer Bowl (Photo Courtesy of Continental Motors) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Photo 3. Ice in Right Fuel Manifold Valve (Photo Courtesy of Continental Motors) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Photo 4. Ice in Left Fuel Manifold Valve (Photo Courtesy of Continental Motors) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.