Cessna 404 accident near Denver, Colorado, June 10, 1988
On June 10, 1988 at about 10:04 pm local time, a Cessna 404, registered N8827K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denver, Colorado (Stapelton Intl airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- June 10, 1988 · about 10:04 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Stapelton Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 404 · all 404s on the register
- Registration
- N8827K · no longer on the register · serial 4040424
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ON A FLT FROM GREELEY TO DENVER, COLORADO TO OBTAIN MINOR MAINT ON A CARGO DOOR. AS THE ACFT WAS BEING VECTORED ON FINAL APCH, THE PLT RPRTD THAT HE BELIEVED THE ACFT HAD FUEL STARVATION. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVEDTO MAKE A COMPLETE ROLL & CRASH IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. ONLY ABOUT 1.5 GAL OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE RIGHT WING TANK. THE LEFT WING & FUEL TANK WERE DESTROYED, BUT NO ODOR OF FUEL WAS NOTED ON THE GROUND AROUND THE LEFT WING. ALSO, A LACK OF FUEL WAS NOTED IN THE FUEL LINES. THE ACFT HAD NOT BEEN REFUELED AFTER THE PREVIOUS FLT. THE PLT THAT HAD FLOWN THE ACFT ON A PREVIOUS FLT ESTIMATED THERE WAS 100 LBS OF FUEL REMAINING IN EACH TANK AFTER HIS FLT.
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: 1,400 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,486 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 24, 1988; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTISO-520-M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Today, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: GXY Greeley CO at 9:45 pm
- Destination: DEN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26L, 10,004 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:30 pm from DEN, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.