Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hardwick, Minnesota 56134
Monday, April 4, 1988 18:20 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT FOR APRX 8 MINUTES IN ERRATIC DIVING, CLIMBING, AND STEEP-TURNING MANEUVERS WHICH CULMINATED IN A 12 DEGREE DESCENT TO THE GROUND. THE SOUND OF THE ENG WAS HEARD THROUGHOUT THE SEQUENCE AND OTHER EVIDENCE INDICATED ENGINE POWER AT IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES, A FARM BLDG, FARM EQUIPMENT, AND A VEHICLE, THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. THE WRECKAGE WAS STREWN ALONG A 320 FT PATH. NO EVIDENCE OF FLIGHT CONTROL MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE PLT CLAIMED AN UPSET STOMACH BEFORE THE FLT. THE PILOT'S SPEECH WAS SLURRED IN RADIO TRANSMISSIONS. THE PLT DID NOT RESPOND TO THE LAST RADIO CALL FROM SIOUX FALLS TOWER. NO EMERGENCY OR DISTRESS CALLS WERE RECEIVED FROM THE PILOT. THE POSTMORTEM EXAM OF THE PLT DID NOT IDENTIFY SPECIFIC IMPAIRMENT BUT WAS LIMITED DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE IMPACT AND FIRE DAMAGE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/4/1988
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1820
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City HARDWICK
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 56134
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 4
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1750 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 226
Weather Observation Facility ID FSD
Elevation of weather observation facility 1700
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 26
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
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 Unknown
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1672
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 4 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2115
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37844
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:40AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N207CA
NTSB Number CHI88FA092
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 207
Aircraft Series Identifier 207
Aircraft Serial Number 2070097
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 12000
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NORTHLAND AIR FREIGHT
Aircraft Owner Street Address CRYSTAL AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner City MINNEAPOLIS
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55429
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name NORTHLAND AIR FREIGHT
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address CRYSTAL AIRPORT
Operator City CRYSTAL
Operator State MN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 55429
Operator Code AFX
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FSD
Departure City SIOUX FALLS
Departure State SD
Departure Country
Departure Time 1758
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MIC
Destination City CRYSTAL
Destination State MN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --