Cessna 340A accident near Paonia, Colorado, May 26, 1984
On May 26, 1984 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Cessna 340A, registered N6231X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Paonia, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 1984 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Paonia, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340A · all 340As on the register
- Registration
- N6231X · no longer on the register · serial 340A0432
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT ABOUT 200 FT (AGL) ON INITIAL CLIMB FROM TAKEOFF, A COMPLETE POWER LOSS WAS EXPERIENCED ON THE LEFT ENGINE. HE STATED THE LEFT PROPELLER WAS FEATHERED, BUT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT HOLD ALTITUDE AT RECOMMENDED SINGLE-ENGINE SPEED DURING A GRADUAL TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT, NECESSITATING A FORCED LANDING ATTEMPT ON A PAVED ROAD. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE HARD SURFACE, CROSSED AN EMBANKMENT AND CAME TO REST IN A FIELD. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE IN THE LEFT ENGINE. INVESTIGATION FURTHER FOUND THE LEFT PROP CONTROL IN HIGH PITCH VS FEATHER AND THE FUEL SELECTORS ON AUXILIARY TANKS, CONTRARY TO AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS. THE MANUFACTURER STATES THAT TAKEOFF ON AUX TANKS WITH 10 GALS CAN UNPORT THE ENGINE FEED PORT. THE PILOT STATED HE SWITCHED BOTH ENGINES TO AUX TANKS DURING ATTEMPT TO RECOVER POWER.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,353 hours in all; 440 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 2,205 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 26, 1983; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7V2 Paonia CO at 8:15 pm
- Destination: 0V2 Salida CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:20 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.