Cessna 421C N5468G

Summary

On 26 January 1994 at about 21:15 local time, a Cessna 421C registered N5468G was involved in an accident near McCook, Nebraska, United States. 7 people were on board and 2 died, 3 were seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 January 1994 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

McCook, Nebraska, United States

Nearest airport

McCook Muni (MCK)

Coordinates

40.2003, -100.6201

Aircraft

Cessna 421C

Registration

N5468G

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Denver → Columbus

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI94MA072

2 people died.

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND THE ACCUMULATION OF AIRFRAME ICE, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT WERE: PARTIAL FAILURE OF BOTH ALTERNATORS, WHICH RESULTED IN A SUBSEQUENT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE AND AN INOPERATIVE ANTI-ICE/DE-ICE SYSTEM, ADVERSE WEATHER (ICING) CONDITIONS, AND AIRFRAME (WING) ICE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PART 135 ON-DEMAND AIR TAXI FLIGHT DEPARTED DENVER, COLORADO, WITH A DESTINATION OF COLUMBUS, NEBRASKA. WEATHER FORECASTS WERE FOR ICING CONDITIONS ALONG THE ENTIRE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. WHILE EN ROUTE, ATC ADVISED THE PILOT OF REPORTED ICING AHEAD. THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO CLIMB TO 19,000 FEET TO GET ON TOP OF THE CLOUDS. THE PILOT REPORTED 'SOME ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS,' AND REQUESTED TO DIVERT TO NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. HE THEN ELECTED TO DIVERT TO MCCOOK, NEBRASKA, DUE TO THE WEATHER AT NORTH PLATTE. ATC LOST COMMUNICATION WITH THE PILOT DURING THE DIVERSION. WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE CIRCLED THE MCCOOK AIRPORT TWICE. ACCORDING TO THEM, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A BANK OF ABOUT 45 DEG, THEN STALLED. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT TRAVELED ABOUT 190 FEET THROUGH A STAND OF TREES BEFORE COMING TO REST. WITNESSES REPORTED THE AIRPLANE WAS COVERED WITH ICE. ONE-HALF INCH OF MIXED ICE WAS FOUND ON A PIECE OF WINDSHIELD. BOTH ALTERNATORS HAD ONE PHASE IN THE STATOR WINDING SHORTED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.