Cessna 421C accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, February 11, 1985
On February 11, 1985 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 421C, registered N6866K, was destroyed in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Coronado airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 6 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
- February 11, 1985 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Coronado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 6 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421C · all 421Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6866K · no longer on the register · serial 421C1076
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS FLYING HIS WIFE & HER 4 FRIENDS TO ASPEN, CO FOR A SKI VACATION. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE RGT BAGGAGE DOOR OPENED. THEY OBSERVED THE ACFT TURN LEFT ONTO A DOWNWIND WITH THE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED. EIGHT WITNESSES REPORTED THE ENG(S) WERE PRODUCING POWER OF VARYING DEGREES; 2 STATED THE LEFT ENG STOPPED RUNNING & 2 REPORTED THE RGT ENG HAD A REDUCTION OF POWER OR RPM. IN THE VICINITY OF WHERE THE PLT WOULD HAVE MADE A BASE TURN, THE ACFT ENTERED A LEFT DESCENDING TURN, COLLIDED WITH THE TOPS OF TREES BESIDE A ROAD, IMPACTED IN THE ROADWAY ON AN EASTERLY HEADING, SLID TO A STOP & BURNED. AN EXAM REVEALED THE GEAR WAS DOWN, THE LEFT PROP WAS FEATHERED & THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE RGT BAGGAGE DOOR WAS OPEN. THE THROTTLE QUADRANT WAS FOUND WITH THE LEFT THROTTLE 2/3 FORWARD, THE RGT THROTTLE FULL AFT, THE LEFT PROP CONTROL IN THE FEATHER POSITION, THE RGT PROP CONTROL FULL FORWARD & THE MIXTURES AT ORNEAR THEIR FORWARD POSITIONS. THE FLT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ACFT WERE CONSIDERED NORMAL WITH THE BAGGAGE DOOR OPEN.
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, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,027 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 12, 1984; 301 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,500 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-N (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: ASE Aspen CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,020 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.