Reno Cannon I'ntl Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Reno, Nevada 89502
Friday, January 15, 1993 13:43 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A CESSNA 414 COLLIDED WITH A LEVEL GROUND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND DURING A SNOW SHOWER. THE PILOT REPORTED AN EMERGENCY ONE MINUTE AFTER DEPARTING IFR AND REQUESTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT UNDER VISUAL RULES. THE PILOT INDICATED TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL THAT 'I CAN'T GET ANY SPEED.' THE VISIBILITY WAS VARIABLE AROUND THE AIRPORT WITH THE LOWEST REPORT OF 1/2 MILE. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE TRAVELING FAST AT LOW ALTITUDE AND INDICATED BOTH ENGINES WERE RUNNING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED DURING SERVICING BEFORE THE FLIGHT, THE PITOT TUBE COVERS WERE NOT USED. ABOUT 1.5 INCHES OF SNOW HAD ACCUMULATED ON THE AIRPLANE DURING THE REFUELING AND WAS BRUSHED OFF. THE AIRPLANE WAS SEEN FLYING INTO A SNOW SHOWER AND REVERSING COURSE. WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE'S ANGLE OF BANK TO BE 80 TO 90 DEGREES WITH A 20 DEGREE PITCH DOWN ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO A SNOW COVERED PASTURE. WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE LEVELED ITS WING JUST BEFORE IMPACT. MANUFACTURER'S SAFETY AND WARNING SUPPLEMENTS INDICATE INFLIGHT ICE PROTECTION IS NOT DESIGNED TO REMOVE SNOW ON PARKED AIRCRAFT. THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS USE OF HEATED HANGARS OR APPROVED DEICING SOLUTIONS TO INSURE THE ARE NO INTERNAL ACCUMULATIONS IN PITOT STATIC SYSTEM PORTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO USE PITOT STATIC SYSTEM COVERS DURING ICING CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN A BLOCKED PITOT TUBE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF AIRSPEED INDICATIONS. THIS LED TO PILOT DISORIENTATION AND AN INVERTANT STALL. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE IMPROPER SNOW REMOVAL AND ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/15/1993
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1343
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City RENO
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89502
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RENO CANNON I'NTL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RNO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 350
Airport Elevation 4412
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1343 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 170
Weather Observation Facility ID RNO
Elevation of weather observation facility 4412
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 1
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 442
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 15 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1405
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 50309
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:07PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4733G
NTSB Number LAX93FA095
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 414
Aircraft Series Identifier 414
Aircraft Serial Number 0928
Certified Max Gross Weight 6350
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 7
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 15 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PLANE WRAP
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1500
Aircraft Owner City SIMI VALLEY
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93062
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PLANE WRAP
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1500
Operator City SIMI VALLEY
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93062
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code RNO
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1040
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CMA
Destination City CAMARILLO
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 16
Runway Length 10008
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --