# Accident 19971129035829A: Cessna 402B, Spencer, IA, November 29, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 29, 1997, 09:00 local time
- Place: Spencer, IA
- Airport: Spencer Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach-IFR
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: DFSA
- Location: 43.1402° N, 95.1500° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1402&lon=-95.1500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N22NC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N22NC-2000-10-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 402B (registry code 207590P, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 402B
- Reported engine: CONT TSIO520E
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,712 total, 197 in this make and model, 214 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA050) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971129035829A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

DESCENDED BELOW GLIDESLOPE LINED UP WITH ROAD OFF COURSE. DRAGGED WING. TORE OFF RT AND NOSE GEAR. 2 MILES FROM SPW (.4)THE PILOT MADE FOUR MISSED ILS APPROACHES AT THE AIRPORT.  HE STATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE APPROACH LIGHTS DURING ANY OF THE APPROACHES AND DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE MAKING A LANDING.  THE REPORTED VISIBILITY DURING THESE APPROACHES WAS 1/2-STATUTE MILE.  ON THE FIFTH APPROACH THE PILOT SAID HE HAD '...MISTAKEN CLOSELY INLINE CARS AND A ROAD FOR THE MALSR AND RUNWAY.'  HE PILOT STATED THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DESCEND AFTER INITIATING A GO-AROUND.  HE SAID HE SAW ON-COMING TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF HIM, AND TURNED THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT.  HE SAID HE LOST ALTITUDE AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND.  THE PILOT'S EMPLOYERS OPERATIONS SPECIFICATION REQUIRE A 1/4-MILE INCREASE IN VISIBILITY FOR AN ILS APPROACH THAT DOES NOT HAVE AN OPERATING APPROACH LIGHTING SYSTEM. THE APPROACH LIGHTS WERE CHECKED BY THE AIRPORT MANAGER AND WERE CONFIRMED TO BE IN WORKING ORDER. AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO PRE-ACCIDENT AIRFRAME OR ENGINE ANOMALIES THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED NORMAL FLIGHT.                                                                                       (-23)PILOT DESCENDED BELOW GLIDESLOPE. HE LINED UP ON HIGHWAY (30 DEGREES OFF APPROACH COURSE) AND NEARLY STRUCK VEHICALES ON THE ROAD.  HE THEN MADE A STEEP RIGHT BANK, DRAGGING WING TIP ON THE GROUND.  THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK GROUND ON IT'S BELLY, TEARING NOSE AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR OFF.  IT SKIDDED TO A STOP IN A FIELD 1 1/2 MILES NORHT OF SPENCER AIRPORT.  A FIRE BROKE OUT AT EACH WINGTIP AREA.  PILOT ESCAPED THROUGH CARGO HATCH.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI98LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA050), Nov 29, 1997: Cessna 402B (N22NC), Spencer, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot failure to comply with the prescribed IFR procedure and his not following his company's operations specifications. Low clouds and fog were are contributing factors.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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