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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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January 15, 1993 · Cessna 414 · N4733G

Reno, NV

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 15, 1993
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Reno, NV
Aircraft
Cessna 414
Tail Number
N4733G
Operator
Plane Wrap
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX93FA095

A Cessna 414 collided with level ground while attempting to land during a snow shower. The pilot reported an emergency one minute after departing IFR and requested to return to the airport under visual rules. The pilot indicated to air traffic control that "I can't get any speed." The visibility was variable around the airport with the lowest report of 1/2 mile. Witnesses observed the airplane traveling fast at low altitude and indicated both engines were running. Investigation revealed during servicing before the flight, the pitot tube covers were not used. About 1.5 inches of snow had accumulated on the airplane during the refueling and was brushed off. The airplane was seen flying into a snow shower and reversing course. Witnesses reported the airplane's angle of bank to be 80 to 90 degrees with a 20 degree pitch down attitude. The airplane descended into a snow covered pasture. Witnesses reported the airplane leveled its wing just before impact. Manufacturer's safety and warning supplements indicate inflight ice protection is not designed to remove snow on parked aircraft. The manufacturer recommends use of heated hangars or approved deicing solutions to insure there are no internal accumulations in pitot static system ports.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO USE PITOT STATIC SYSTEM COVERS DURING ICING CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN A BLOCKED PITOT TUBE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF AIRSPEED INDICATIONS. THIS LED TO PILOT DISORIENTATION AND AN INVERTANT STALL. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE IMPROPER SNOW REMOVAL AND ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

Full Narrative

A CESSNA 414 COLLIDED WITH A LEVEL GROUND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND DURING A SNOW SHOWER. THE PILOT REPORTED AN EMERGENCY ONE MINUTE AFTER DEPARTING IFR AND REQUESTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT UNDER VISUAL RULES. THE PILOT INDICATED TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL THAT 'I CAN'T GET ANY SPEED.' THE VISIBILITY WAS VARIABLE AROUND THE AIRPORT WITH THE LOWEST REPORT OF 1/2 MILE. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE TRAVELING FAST AT LOW ALTITUDE AND INDICATED BOTH ENGINES WERE RUNNING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED DURING SERVICING BEFORE THE FLIGHT, THE PITOT TUBE COVERS WERE NOT USED. ABOUT 1.5 INCHES OF SNOW HAD ACCUMULATED ON THE AIRPLANE DURING THE REFUELING AND WAS BRUSHED OFF. THE AIRPLANE WAS SEEN FLYING INTO A SNOW SHOWER AND REVERSING COURSE. WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE'S ANGLE OF BANK TO BE 80 TO 90 DEGREES WITH A 20 DEGREE PITCH DOWN ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO A SNOW COVERED PASTURE. WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE LEVELED ITS WING JUST BEFORE IMPACT. MANUFACTURER'S SAFETY AND WARNING SUPPLEMENTS INDICATE INFLIGHT ICE PROTECTION IS NOT DESIGNED TO REMOVE SNOW ON PARKED AIRCRAFT. THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS USE OF HEATED HANGARS OR APPROVED DEICING SOLUTIONS TO INSURE THE ARE NO INTERNAL ACCUMULATIONS IN PITOT STATIC SYSTEM PORTS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:43 PST
Nearest AirportReno Cannon I'Ntl (1nm N)
Runway16
Runway Length10008 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 414
Tail NumberN4733G
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorPlane Wrap
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520-NB · Reciprocating · 310
Seats7

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 52 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility1 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point30 C / 27 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time21:43
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data