# Accident 20120511010739A: Cessna 401, Chanute, KS, May 11, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 11, 2012, 16:30 local time
- Place: Chanute, KS
- Airport: Chanute Martin Johnson
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.6383° N, 96.6131° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6383&lon=-96.6131&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9DM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9DM-2018-02-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 401 (registry code 207590C, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-401) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 401
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520-E
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 4
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 600 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12FA290](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA290) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120511010739A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT WAS ON AN IFR FLIGHT FROM TULSA RIVERSIDE AIRPORT (RVS), TO COUNSIL BLUFFS, IA (CBF), AND WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 10,000 FEET NEAR CHANUTE, KS.  ACCORDING TO ATC, THE PILOT REQUESTED A LOWER ALTITUDE, WAS CLEARED TO AND DESCENDED TO 8,000 FEET.  ATC REPORTED SHORTLY THEREAFTER THEY LOST RADAR CONTACT WITH THE AIRCRAFT AND WERE UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PILOT VIA RADIO. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TERRAIN IN A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 7 MILES WEST OF CHANUTE, KS. THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE FATALLY INJURED AND ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY POST IMPACT FIRE. THE SURVIVING PASSENGER STATED THERE WAS SMOKE AND FUMES IN THE AIRCRAFT COCKPIT AND CABIN PRIOR TO IMPACT.

## 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 CEN12FA290](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA290), May 11, 2012: Cessna 401 (N9DM), Chanute, KS, substantial damage, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The malfunction of the cabin heater, which resulted in an inflight fire and smoke in the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of understanding concerning the status of the…

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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