Cessna 402C N2715X

Summary

On 19 June 1992 at about 21:05 local time, a Cessna 402C registered N2715X, operated by Adventure Airlines, was involved in an accident near Meadview, Arizona, United States. 10 people were on board and 10 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 June 1992 at 21:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Meadview, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Grand Canyon West (AZ38)

Coordinates

35.9797, -114.0602

Aircraft

Cessna 402C

Registration

N2715X

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Adventure Airlines

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Las Vegas

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DCA92MA040

10 people died.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE (ENGINE FAILURE AFTER TAKEOFF) AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM CONTROL SPEED (VMC), WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE FAILURE (DISENGAGEMENT) OF THE RIGHT ENGINE FUEL PUMP DRIVE COUPLING, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND THE LACK OF COMPANY TRAINING CONCERNING AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE IN CONDITIONS OF HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND HEAVY GROSS WEIGHT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

PLT BEGAN TAKEOFF ON A 5200-FT DIRT RWY (UPSLOPE TO THE SOUTH, ELEV 4775 FT) WITH WIND FROM THE SOUTH AT 18-20 KTS, DENSITY ALT ABOUT 7250 FT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT TAKING OFF, WITH THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTING AS IT PASSED THEIR PSN. SOON THEREAFTER, THE PLT TRANSMITTED HE HAD 'A PROBLEM.' ACFT WAS THEN SEEN ABOUT 200-300 FT AGL IN RIGHT TURN, WHICH PROGRESSED INTO A DIVE. ACFT IMPACTED IN FLAT ATTITUDE 1/2 MI SOUTH OF RWY 17. PSGR VIDEO TAPES REVEALED PROPS WENT OUT OF SYNC ABOUT 6 SEC ATER TAKEOFF. ABOUT 15 SEC LATER, RIGHT PROP SLOWED UNTIL BLADES COULD BE SEEN TURNING. VIDEO SHOWED ONE ENG FUEL FLOW AT ABOUT 90 GPH, OTR ENG AT MIN SETTING (ABT 3 PSI), 5 DEG INCREASE IN PITCH ATTITUDE. EXAM REVEALED RGT ENG DRIVEN FUEL PUMP DRIVE COUPLING WAS SCORED AND ONLY PARTIALLY ENGAGED. SB ME88 3 COMPLIED WITH; AUX FUEL PUMP SWS FOUND IN LOW PSN. RGT PROP BLADES FND AT FINE PITCH, LACKING ROTATIONAL DMG. LNDG GEAR FND UP, BUT UNLOCKED; FLAPS EXTDD 15 DEG. EMERG PROC TRNG DID NOT REPLICATE HI DENSITY ALT AND MAX GROSS WEIGHT PERFORMANCE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.