Mccook Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mccook, Nebraska 69001
Wednesday, January 26, 1994 15:15 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PART 135 ON-DEMAND AIR TAXI FLIGHT DEPARTED DENVER, COLORADO, WITH A DESTINATION OF COLUMBUS, NEBRASKA. WEATHER FORECASTS WERE FOR ICING CONDITIONS ALONG THE ENTIRE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. WHILE EN ROUTE, ATC ADVISED THE PILOT OF REPORTED ICING AHEAD. THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO CLIMB TO 19,000 FEET TO GET ON TOP OF THE CLOUDS. THE PILOT REPORTED 'SOME ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS,' AND REQUESTED TO DIVERT TO NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. HE THEN ELECTED TO DIVERT TO MCCOOK, NEBRASKA, DUE TO THE WEATHER AT NORTH PLATTE. ATC LOST COMMUNICATION WITH THE PILOT DURING THE DIVERSION. WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE CIRCLED THE MCCOOK AIRPORT TWICE. ACCORDING TO THEM, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A BANK OF ABOUT 45 DEG, THEN STALLED. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT TRAVELED ABOUT 190 FEET THROUGH A STAND OF TREES BEFORE COMING TO REST. WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE WAS COVERED WITH ICE. ONE-HALF INCH OF MIXED ICE WAS FOUND ON A PIECE OF WINDSHIELD. BOTH ALTERNATORS HAD ONE PHASE IN THE STATOR WINDING SHORTED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND THE ACCUMULATION OF AIRFRAME ICE, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT WERE: PARTIAL FAILURE OF BOTH ALTERNATORS, WHICH RESULTED IN A SUBSEQUENT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE AND AN INOPERATIVE ANTI-ICE/DE-ICE SYSTEM, ADVERSE WEATHER (ICING) CONDITIONS, AND AIRFRAME (WING) ICE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/26/1994
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1515
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City MCCOOK
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 69001
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MCCOOK MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MCK
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2579
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1520 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MCK
Elevation of weather observation facility 2579
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1.5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -5
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 3
Injury Total All 7
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 90
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 26 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1630
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:24AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5468G
NTSB Number CHI94MA072
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 421C
Aircraft Series Identifier 421C
Aircraft Serial Number 421C-0215
Certified Max Gross Weight 7450
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 8
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 29 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 48
Airframe Hours 5837
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SKY HARBOR AIR SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 19083
Aircraft Owner City OMAHA
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 68119
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code ATZA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DEN
Departure City DENVER
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1244
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OLU
Destination City COLUMBUS
Destination State NE
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --