Cessna 402C accident near Aspen, Colorado, March 30, 1985
On March 30, 1985 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna 402C, registered N2711X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aspen, Colorado (Aspen airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. 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
- March 30, 1985 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Aspen, Colorado · Aspen · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402C · all 402Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2711X · no longer on the register · serial 402C-0116
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS BY THE ASPEN TWR CONTROLLER TO LAND ON RWY 15. HE WAS REQUESTED TO MAKE A SHORT FINAL TO THE RWY BECAUSE OF APPROACHING TRAFFIC. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE LANDED SLIGHTLY LEFT OF THE RWY CTR LINE. THE ACFT SKIDDED TO LEFT AND THE LEFT WIND TIP CAUGHT A SNOWBANK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE ACFT CAME TO REST OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF RWY 15 AFTER THE LANDING GEAR SEPERATED. THE WIND WAS RPTED TO BE FROM 360 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 837 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,987 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 1985; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,850 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-VB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GJT Grand Junction CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 15, 7,003 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from ASE
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.