Cessna 421C accident near Fort Lupton, Colorado, August 1, 1984
On August 1, 1984 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Cessna 421C, registered N6231G, was destroyed in an accident near Fort Lupton, Colorado. It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- August 1, 1984 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Lupton, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6231G · registry record · serial 421C0262
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PREFLT WX BRIEFING, THE PLT WAS ADVISED OF THUNDERSTORMS & INTENSE RAIN SHOWERS ON THE ROUTE OF FLT. HOWEVER, HE FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN & TOOK OFF. DURING FLT, THE ATC CONTROLLER ADVISED THE PLT OF A LEVEL 6 CELL AHEAD & NOTED THAT HE HAD NO REPORT ON ITS TOP. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS 'NOT SHOWING ANYTHING' ON HIS RADAR. ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO DEVIATE. APRX 20 MIN LATER, THE PLT REPORTED THE ACFT WAS ENCOUNTERING ICING CONDITIONS & WAS LOSING ALT. AFTER ANOTHER 1 MIN & 38 SEC, HE REPORTED 'WE'RE GOING IN.' SUBSEQUENTLY, AN IN-FLT BREAKUP OCCURRED. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND SCATTERED OVER A 1/2 MI AREA. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE OUTBOARD WING PANELS HAD FAILED IN FLT. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING EITHER SMOKE OR FIRE IN FLT BEFORE THE ACFT CRASHED. EVIDENCE OF AN ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE WAS FOUND ON THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE RIGHT WING. HOWEVER, THE PLT HAD NOT MENTIONED ANY ENCOUNTER WITH LIGHTNING ON THIS FLT. NO EVIDENCE OF METAL FATIGUE WAS FOUND.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 23,799 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 13, 1983; 2,099 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,450 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AMA Amarillo TX at 8:28 pm
- Destination: CPR Casper WY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from DEN, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.