Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pocatello, Idaho 83202
Thursday, November 8, 1990 8:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A CARGO FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED STRONG HEAD WINDS AND ICING CONDITIONS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD TO APPLY ADDITIONAL POWER IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. DURING THE DESCENT TO THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT NOTIFIED ATC THAT HE WAS DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND REPORTED MINIMUM FUEL. SHORTLY THERE AFTER, THE ENGINES QUIT. THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD WHERE DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLAPSED. POST CRASH INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE NEAR EXHAUSTED OF FUEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A BURNED PISTON RESULTING FROM ARCING AND PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAGNETO BECAUSE OF IMPROPER OVERHAUL, THE CONTAMINATION OF THE RIGHT MAGNETO AND IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE FUEL SYSTEM AT THE LAST MAJOR ENGINE OVERHAUL; POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT INS SELECTING THE WRONG RUNWAY; AND THE PREMATURE EXTENSION OF THE FLAPS AND LADNING GEAR CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO UNDERSHOOT THE RUNWAY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/8/1990
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City POCATELLO
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83202
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 850 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID PIH
Elevation of weather observation facility 4449
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
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) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1818
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 8 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 756
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43610
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1683T
NTSB Number SEA91LA014
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 402B
Aircraft Series Identifier 402B
Aircraft Serial Number 402B0226
Certified Max Gross Weight 6300
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 2
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name UNKNOWN
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name REGIONAL EXPRESS COMPANY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 2773
Operator City BOISE
Operator State ID
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 83701
Operator Code RECA
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 Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SLC
Departure City SALT LAKE CITY
Departure State UT
Departure Country
Departure Time 700
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --