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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

January 12, 1993 · Aero Commander 500-B · N712AC

Susank, KS

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 12, 1993
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Susank, KS
Aircraft
Aero Commander 500-B
Tail Number
N712AC
Operator
Central Airlines
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI93LA070

The pilot received two weather briefings; both indicating icing conditions en route to Hays. In addition, both briefings advised of a SIGMET for reported moderate-to-severe icing in freezing rain below 4500 ft MSL. He telephoned both dispatch and the chief pilot; the consensus was that the weather had not developed as forecast and the adverse weather appeared to be east of Hays (1st landing location). While descending into Hays, the airplane accumulated ice rapidly. The pilot did not see the field at MDA and executed a missed approach. He was subsequently unable to climb out of icing conditions, and the airplane settled to the ground with full power. The airplane was not equipped for flight into known icing conditions. It did incorporate STC SA2573CE which installs synthetic rudder strips on the wing/tail leading edges. The anti-icing 'shoes' are sprayed with glycol to help prevent ice build-up if icing conditions are encountered in flight. The pilot stated that the owner represented the STC as meeting FAR 135.227 for flight into icing conditions.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER AND THE OWNER'S REPRESENTATION THAT THE AIRPLANE MET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FLIGHT INTO ICING CONDITIONS. THE WEATHER AND AIRFRAME ICE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT RECEIVED TWO WX BRIEFINGS; BOTH INDICATING ICING CONDITIONS EN ROUTE TO HAYS. IN ADDITION, BOTH BRIEFINGS ADVISED OF A SIGMET FOR REPORTED MODERATE-TO-SEVERE ICING IN FREEZING RAIN BELOW 4500 FT MSL. HE TELEPHONED BOTH DISPATCH AND THE CHIEF PILOT; THE CONSENSUS WAS THAT THE WX HAD NOT DEVELOPED AS FORECAST AND THE ADVERSE WX APPEARED TO BE EAST OF HAYS (1ST LANDING LOCATION). WHILE DESCENDING INTO HAYS, THE AIRPLANE ACCUMULATED ICE RAPIDLY. THE PILOT DID NOT SEE THE FIELD AT MDA AND EXECUTED A MISSED APPROACH. HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY UNABLE TO CLIMB OUT OF ICING CONDITIONS, AND THE AIRPLANE SETTLED TO THE GROUND WITH FULL POWER. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED FOR FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS. IT DID INCORPORATE STC SA2573CE WHICH INSTALLS SYNTHETIC RUDDER STRIPS ON THE WING/TAIL LEADING EDGES. THE ANTI-ICING 'SHOES' ARE SPRAYED WITH GLYCOL TO HELP PREVENT ICE BUILD-UP IF ICING CONDITIONS ARE ENCOUNTERED IN FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE OWNER REPRESENTED THE STC AS MEETING FAR 135.227 FOR FLIGHT INTO ICING CONDITIONS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:55 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAero Commander 500-B
Tail NumberN712AC
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorCentral Airlines
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-E1A5 · Reciprocating · 290
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 35 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind180° @ 14 kt
Visibility2 sm
CeilingOvercast 300 ft
Temperature / Dew Point30 C / 28 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time01:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data