Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn December 30, 2014, about 0429 mountain standard time a Cessna 404, N404MG, was substantially damaged when it impacted a residential area north of Centennial Airport (KAPA), Englewood, Colorado. A post impact fire ensued. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated by Key Lime Air under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a positioning flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Denver International Airport (KDEN), Denver, Colorado

According to representatives from Key Lime Air, the pilot was positioning the airplane from KAPA to KDEN for a potential 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 freight flight. The airplane was parked outside and uphill from their facility at KAPA since December 25, 2014. The night before the accident the airplane was towed to a parking space outside of their hangar so that the engine heaters could be plugged in.

On the morning of the accident, the pilot was observed removing the blankets from the engine and the snow and ice on the airframe. The pilot used mechanical means to deice the airplane and was not assisted with a chemical deice or deicing services. Key Lime Air estimated that the airplane had 800 pounds of fuel on board. There were no services requested or received by the pilot on the morning of the accident.

A Key Lime Air employee estimated that the pilot started his number 1 engine about 0408. The engine started immediately and ran for 5 to 10 minutes before the pilot started the number two engine. This engine also started immediately and ran for several minutes. The airplane taxied from its parking spot several minutes later.

According to air traffic control (ATC) recordings the pilot requested clearance from ATC and was cleared to the Denver Airport at an altitude of 8,000 feet. At 0419:11 the pilot announced his taxi and was cleared to runway 35 right via the alpha taxiway. At 0425 the pilot was cleared for takeoff.

At 0427:22 the pilot reported to the tower controller that he had "lost an engine" and needed to return to the airport. The controller responded that any runway was available and provided a wind of 030 degrees at 3 knots. At 0427:38 the controller asked the pilot if he would be able to make "that left turn." At 0427:42 the pilot responded by saying "standby".

Radar data indicated the accident airplane departed from runway 17L/35R to the north – the field elevation at KAPA was 5,885 feet mean sea level (msl). The radar track was consistent with a slight right turn to the northeast. Radar data indicated an altitude of 6,125 feet msl when the turn to the right was initiated. The highest altitude indicated was 6,225 feet msl. The last recorded radar return indicated an altitude of 5,975 feet msl, and was coincident with ATC's loss of radar and voice communic