Cessna 401A N800SS
10 October 2000 · Andrews, Texas, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 10 October 2000 at about 17:30 local time, a Cessna 401A registered N800SS was involved in an accident near Andrews, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Andrews, Texas, United States
- Nearest airport
- Andrews County Airport (E11)
- Coordinates
- 32.3202, -102.5396
- Aircraft
- Cessna 401A
- Registration
- N800SS
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- El Paso → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW01LA002
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The hard landing due to the pilot's excessive rate of descent. A factor was the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's improper positioning of the fuel selectors.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
Witnesses reported observing the airplane on a 'tight' right base, 'low approach' to runway 33. Approximately one-quarter mile east of the runway, the airplane was observed in a 'sharp 90-degree turn (right turn) north and [a] rapid descent to the runway.' The airplane's right wing tip impacted the runway, and the airplane exited the runway and came to rest upright between the runway and a taxiway. A witness recalled the pilot stating that he 'lost his engines' and that he 'hit really hard.' One witness stated he did not recall hearing any engine noise, and another witness reported hearing the engines 'quit.' The right wing tip fuel tank was destroyed. The left wing tip fuel tank was compromised. Both auxiliary fuel tanks were empty. Both fuel selector valves were in the auxiliary tank position. Numerous attempts to contact the pilot were unsuccessful.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 401 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jun 2000 | Cessna 401 | La Romana, Dominican Republic | Air Century | Fatal | 1 |
| 2 Oct 1999 | Cessna 401B | Caldwell, New Jersey, United States | Frank Ferrari, President | Serious injuries | - |
| 17 Dec 2001 | Cessna 401A | Martinsburg, West Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Mar 1998 | Cessna 401 | La Puntilla, Chile | Aero Chaiten | Fatal | 5 |
| 4 Sep 1998 | Cessna 401 | Lancaster, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 2003 | Cessna 401 | Gustavus, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jul 2000 | Schweizer G-164B | Moscow, Texas, United States | Paynes Flying Service, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 30 May 2000 | Air Tractor AT-301 | Garwood, Texas, United States | Michael Thompson | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Apr 2000 | Mooney M20F | Tomball, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Apr 2000 | Piper PA-32R-301 | Rocksprings, Texas, United States | Ivan B. Greenhut | No injuries | - |
| 16 Sep 2000 | Cessna 185F | Burnet, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 Feb 2000 | Piper PA-18 | New Ulm, Texas, United States | Leonard F. Firth | Minor injuries | - |