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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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December 18, 1986 · Cessna 340A · N8CD

Tomball, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 18, 1986
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Tomball, TX
Aircraft
Cessna 340A
Tail Number
N8CD
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW87FA032

THE PILOT TOOK OFF IN FOG AND LIGHT RAIN AND CLIMBED INTO CLOUDS AT ABOUT 300-400 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHILE BOTH LANDING LIGHTS WERE EXTENDED AND ILLUMINATED. ALSO THE AIRPORT'S ROTATING BEACON (LOCATED AOBUT A MILE FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE) WAS FLASHING ON THE CLOUDS ACCORDING TO A GROUND WITNESS. JUST AFTER ENTERING THE CLOUDS THE PILOT WAS ISSUED A LEFT TURN FROM HIS PRESENT HEADING OF 350 DEGREES TO A HEADING OF 270 DEGREES AND TOLD TO CONTACT DEPARTURE CONTROL. HE DID NOT MAKE THIS CONTACT AND HE CONTINUED THE LEFT TURN (NOW DESCENDING) TO A HEADING OF 210 DEGREES AT WHICH TIME THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND A LARGE ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINE AND THEN THE GROUND. THE ENGINES WERE OPERATING AT A HIGH POWER SETTING AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. ALL BROKEN FLIGHT CONTROL CABLES REVEALED EVIDENCE OF OVERSTRESS SEPARATION. NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT TOOK OFF IN FOG AND LIGHT RAIN AND CLIMBED INTO CLOUDS AT ABOUT 300-400 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHILE BOTH LANDING LIGHTS WERE EXTENDED AND ILLUMINATED. ALSO THE AIRPORT'S ROTATING BEACON (LOCATED AOBUT A MILE FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE) WAS FLASHING ON THE CLOUDS ACCORDING TO A GROUND WITNESS. JUST AFTER ENTERING THE CLOUDS THE PILOT WAS ISSUED A LEFT TURN FROM HIS PRESENT HEADING OF 350 DEGREES TO A HEADING OF 270 DEGREES AND TOLD TO CONTACT DEPARTURE CONTROL. HE DID NOT MAKE THIS CONTACT AND HE CONTINUED THE LEFT TURN (NOW DESCENDING) TO A HEADING OF 210 DEGREES AT WHICH TIME THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND A LARGE ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINE AND THEN THE GROUND. THE ENGINES WERE OPERATING AT A HIGH POWER SETTING AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. ALL BROKEN FLIGHT CONTROL CABLES REVEALED EVIDENCE OF OVERSTRESS SEPARATION. NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time06:21 CST
Nearest AirportDavid Wayne Hooks Mem. (1nm WNW)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 340A
Tail NumberN8CD
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520-NB · Reciprocating · 310
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 42 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind60° @ 9 kt
Visibility3 sm
CeilingOvercast 400 ft
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 54
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time12:20
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data