Cessna 414 accident near Wallingford, Vermont, August 24, 1984
On August 24, 1984 at about 2:50 pm local time, a Cessna 414, registered N18SM, was destroyed in an accident near Wallingford, Vermont (Rutland airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 24, 1984 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Wallingford, Vermont · Rutland
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 414 · all 414s on the register
- Registration
- N18SM · no longer on the register · serial 414-0548
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS EXECUTING SECOND ATTEMPT FOR A INSTRUMENT APCH, LDA RWY 19, FOLLOWING A MISSED APCH ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE PLT LAST REPORTED OVER THE IAF, 9 MIS NORTH OF THE ARPT. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A MOUNTAIN AT A ELEVATION OF 1700 FTAND 5 MIS SOUTH OF THE ARPT. THE WRECKAGE WAS ORIENTED ON A 190 DEG MAG HEADING AND NEAR THE EXTENDED CENTERLINE OF RWY 19. THE MDA FOR THE APCH IS 1680 FT MSL. THE MAP IS A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN TO 5000 FT DIRECT TO THE IAF. THE ARPT IS SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS. THE LANDING GEAR AND FLAPS WERE FOUND EXTENDED. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DISCLOSED ON EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,010 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,852 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 1984; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Cont TSI10-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ORH Worcester MA at 1:52 pm
- Destination: RUT Rutland VT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 19, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 900 ft; clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from RUT, 4 miles away
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.