Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chadron, Nebraska 69337
Sunday, January 8, 1989 18:45 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF ON A DARK NIGHT, THE PVT PILOT SAID HE TURNED AROUND TO RETRIEVE SOMETHING FROM THE BACK SEAT. HE BECAME AWARE OF THE ENGINE'S RPM INCREASING, AND WHEN HE TURNED AROUND FACING FORWARD, HE COULD NOT SEE THE HORIZON. HE STARTED TO SCAN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TERRAIN, LEFT WING FIRST. THE WING FOLDED UNDER THE FUSELAGE AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID ABOUT 120 FEET.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PLT FAILED TO DEVOTE FULL TIME & ATTENTION TO FLYING THE ACFT, WITH A RESULTING LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/8/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1845
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City CHADRON
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 69337
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CDR
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 320
Airport Elevation 3296
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1950 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID CDR
Elevation of weather observation facility 3296
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 15000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 8
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 8 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2145
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37987
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:25PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3799R
NTSB Number MKC89LA049
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier 172
Aircraft Serial Number 17255599
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Oct 14 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 59
Airframe Hours 5115
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name L&D AERO SERVICE, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address HC 75, BOX 116D
Aircraft Owner City CHADRON
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 69337
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
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CDR
Departure City CHADRON
Departure State NE
Departure Country
Departure Time 1840
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CSP
Destination City CASPER
Destination State WY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 --