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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 20, 1988 · Gulfstream 500B · N611CA

Pierceville, KS

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 20, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Pierceville, KS
Aircraft
Gulfstream 500B
Tail Number
N611CA
Operator
Central Airlines
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MKC88FA042

THE ACFT DPTD GARDEN CITY UNDER EXTREMELY POOR WX COND'S. MORE THAN HALF WAY TO DODGE CITY, THE PIC RPTD ENG PBLMS TO KANSAS CITY (ARTCC). VECTORS WERE PROVIDED TO THE DODGE CITY ARPT, BUT THE PIC DID NOT MAINTAIN ASSIGNED HDGS. THE ACFT HEADED BACK TOWARDS GARDEN CITY TO ATTEMPT AN INST APPRCH. RADAR VECTORS WERE PROVIDED FOR THE LOCALIZER APPRCH. RADAR INDICATED THAT THE ACFT DID NOT BECOME STABILIZED ON THE APPRCH. THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF GRNDSPD AS THE PLT WAS ATTMPTNG TO GET ESTABLISHED ON THE LOCALIZER. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST ABT 2 MI FM THE ARPT AT A SPD APPRCHNG STALL SPD FOR THIS ACFT. THE ACFT CRASHED ABT 2 MI SHORT AND TO THE RT OF COURSE. THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE ON HDG WHICH INDICATED A TURN AWAY FM THE ARPT. THE LEFT PROP WAS FOUND IN THE FEATHER POSITION. NO MECH PBLM WAS DISCOVERED. THE RT ENG APPEARED TO BE PRODUCING FULL PWR AT IMPACT.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT DPTD GARDEN CITY UNDER EXTREMELY POOR WX COND'S. MORE THAN HALF WAY TO DODGE CITY, THE PIC RPTD ENG PBLMS TO KANSAS CITY (ARTCC). VECTORS WERE PROVIDED TO THE DODGE CITY ARPT, BUT THE PIC DID NOT MAINTAIN ASSIGNED HDGS. THE ACFT HEADED BACK TOWARDS GARDEN CITY TO ATTEMPT AN INST APPRCH. RADAR VECTORS WERE PROVIDED FOR THE LOCALIZER APPRCH. RADAR INDICATED THAT THE ACFT DID NOT BECOME STABILIZED ON THE APPRCH. THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF GRNDSPD AS THE PLT WAS ATTMPTNG TO GET ESTABLISHED ON THE LOCALIZER. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST ABT 2 MI FM THE ARPT AT A SPD APPRCHNG STALL SPD FOR THIS ACFT. THE ACFT CRASHED ABT 2 MI SHORT AND TO THE RT OF COURSE. THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE ON HDG WHICH INDICATED A TURN AWAY FM THE ARPT. THE LEFT PROP WAS FOUND IN THE FEATHER POSITION. NO MECH PBLM WAS DISCOVERED. THE RT ENG APPEARED TO BE PRODUCING FULL PWR AT IMPACT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:46 MST
Nearest AirportGarden City (0nm N)
Runway35
Runway Length5999 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGulfstream 500B
Tail NumberN611CA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorCentral Airlines
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-B1A5 · Reciprocating · 290
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 33 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind340° @ 30 kt, gusting 35 kt
Ceiling600 ft
Temperature / Dew Point25 C / 21 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time01:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data