Cessna 401A N4071Q
24 February 1994 · Minot, North Dakota, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 24 February 1994 at about 15:49 local time, a Cessna 401A registered N4071Q, operated by U.s. Dept of Health & Human SV, was involved in an accident near Minot, North Dakota, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:49
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Minot, North Dakota, United States
- Nearest airport
- Minot International (MOT)
- Coordinates
- 48.2303, -101.2892
- Aircraft
- Cessna 401A
- Registration
- N4071Q
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- U.s. Dept of Health & Human SV
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Public Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Devil's Lake → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI94GA093
People
4 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE DURING A MISSED APPROACH. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE WEATHER AND SNOW COVERED TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PUBLIC USE FLIGHT WAS BEING OPERATED BY THE INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES. IT DEPARTED VFR FROM DEVIL'S LAKE, NORTH DAKOTA, WITH AN INTENDED DESTINATION OF ROLLA, NORTH DAKOTA. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TWO VISUAL APPROACHES AT ROLLA, BUT ENCOUNTERED WHITEOUT CONDITIONS DUE TO A SNOW STORM. HE OBTAINED AN IFR CLEARANCE & DIVERTED TO MINOT. HE FLEW TWO ILS APPROACHES TO RUNWAY 31 AT MINOT & REPORTED A MISSED APPROACH AFTER EACH. RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST AFTER THE SECOND APPROACH. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, A SNOW PLOW OPERATOR FOUND WRECKAGE ON THE AIRPORT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PLANE HAD IMPACTED TO THE RIGHT OF RUNWAY 31 WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED & THE FLAPS EXTENDED 15 DEG. THE 0959 WEATHER WAS IN PART: 600' OBSCURED, VISIBILITY 1/2 MILE VARIABLE IN SNOW, WIND 110 DEG AT 11 KTS. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL ANOMALY WAS FOUND WITH THE AIRPLANE OR ENGINES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 401 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jun 1994 | Cessna 401A | Congotown, Congo | Congo Airways Ltd. | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1995 | Cessna 401A | Van Nuys, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Apr 1993 | Cessna 401 | Middle Caicos, Turks And Caicos Islands | Provo Flyers, Ltd. | No injuries | - |
| 27 Nov 1992 | Cessna 401B | Rice Lake, Wisconsin, United States | Freight Runners Express, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 9 Jan 1996 | Cessna 401A | Spokane, Washington, United States | Pacific States Charter Service | Fatal | 3 |
| 23 Apr 1992 | Cessna 401 | New Port Richey, Florida, United States | Joseph A. McDonald | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul 1994 | Callair A9B | Minot, North Dakota, United States | Pietsch Spraying Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 1994 | Piper PA-25-260 | Crosby, North Dakota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Jul 1994 | Air Tractor AT-301 | Eckelson, North Dakota, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 May 1994 | Grumman G-164-A | La Moure, North Dakota, United States | Robert's Aerial Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 29 Jun 1994 | Air Tractor AT301 | Lawton, North Dakota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Aug 1994 | Piper PA-25 | Spiritwood, North Dakota, United States | AG Air, Inc. | No injuries | - |