Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Littlefork, Minnesota 56653
Thursday, September 21, 1989 8:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT, DURING AN IFR CARGO OPERATION, THE AIRCRAFT HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. HE DESCENDED TO VFR FLIGHT CONDITIONS AND ELECTED TO ATTEMPT AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. HE WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR MANUALLY SO DECIDED TO LAND GEAR UP. THE ACFT SLID FOR CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE IN THE FIELD, THEN STRUCK A ROCK FENCE. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A BROKEN WIRE ON AN ELECTRICAL CANNON PLUG, LOCATED ON THE RIGHT ENGINE FIREWALL, THAT HAD SHORTED OUT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

TOTAL FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DURING IFR OPERATIONS & THE AIRCRAFT'S COLLISION WITH A ROCK FENCE DURING THE SUBSEQUENT GEAR-UP PRECAUTIONARY LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/21/1989
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 845
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City LITTLEFORK
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 56653
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
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 850 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 140
Weather Observation Facility ID HIB
Elevation of weather observation facility 1353
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 60
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3100
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) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
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 Light
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1211
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 21 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39419
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:04PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N132BA
NTSB Number MKC89LA198
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model 80
Aircraft Series Identifier 80
Aircraft Serial Number LD-331
Certified Max Gross Weight 8800
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 AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Sep 4 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 27
Airframe Hours 15814
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BEMIDJI AVIATION SERVICES, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 624
Aircraft Owner City BEMIDJI
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 56601
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BEMIDJI AIR SERVICE, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address PO BOX 624
Operator City BEMIDJI
Operator State MN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 56601
Operator Code
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 HIB
Departure City HIBBING
Departure State MN
Departure Country
Departure Time 750
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code INL
Destination City INTERN'L FALLS
Destination State MN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 --