Beechcraft G-18S N38RM

Summary

On 4 December 1991 at about 10:05 local time, a Beechcraft G-18S registered N38RM, operated by Viking Express, was involved in an accident near West Chicago, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 December 1991 at 10:05

Classification

Accident

Location

West Chicago, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Dupage County (DPA)

Coordinates

41.8805, -88.2192

Aircraft

Beechcraft G-18S

Registration

N38RM

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Viking Express

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Covington

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CHI92FA037

Nobody was injured.

A RESULT OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AN IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION, AND IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION ONCE THE LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE PILOT. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT ARE INADEQUATE CARGO RESTRAINTS, LOOSE CARGO, AND IMPROPER SECURITY OF THE CARGO NOT OBSERVED BY THE PILOT. ADDITIONAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT ARE THE INADEQUATE STANDARDS FOR AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY EMPLOYING AND OPERATING THE AIRPLANE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED SHE FELT THE TWIN ENGINED TAILWHEEL CARGO AIRPLANE YAW TO THE RIGHT DURING TAKEOFF. THE PILOT STATED SHE APPLIED LEFT RUDDER AND SET DIFFERENTIAL POWER TO CORRECT FOR THE PERCEIVED RIGHT HAND CROSSWIND. AS THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF, IT MADE A SHARP RIGHT TURN AND PERFORMED LEFT AND RIGHT BANKS LEVELING OFF PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE SLID THROUGH SECURITY FENCES AND A FUEL SUPPLY DEPOT BEFORE STOPPING. THE NEWSPAPER BUNDLE CARGO MOVED FROM THE TWO FORWARD BAYS TO THE AFT END OF THE CARGO COMPARTMENT. THE NEWSPAPERS WERE COVERED WITH PLASTIC WRAPPER. THE CARGO COMPARTMENT FLOOR WAS SLIPPERY WHEN WALKED UPON AND HAD TRACES OF SNOW ON IT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE CARGO WAS COVERED BY A CARGO NET SECURED AT THE FORWARD END BUT NOT AT THE AFT END. TWO CARGO STRAPS WERE CRISSCROSSED OVER THE NET AND SECURED AT THE AFT END OF THE CARGO LOAD. THE LEFT THROTTLE WAS FOUND IN THE FULL FORWARD POSITION. THE RIGHT THROTTLE WAS FOUND ONE INCH AFT OF THE FULL FORWARD POSITION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.