# NTSB CHI93LA041: Aero Commander 500-B, N777CM, Mccook, NE, November 24, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 23, 1992, 19:47 local (Nov 24, 1992, 01:47 UTC)
- Place: Mccook, NE
- Coordinates: 40.199939, -100.619338 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1999&lon=-100.6193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15630
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93LA041
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15630/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA041

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO DEPART IN KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE ICING CONDITIONS AND STRUCTURAL ICE WERE FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, circling (ifr)
  - wing - ice (contributing factor)
  - stall - encountered, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE CRASHED ON AIRPORT PROPERTY AFTER REPORTING THE AIRPORT IN SIGHT DURING A NIGHT IFR APPROACH. THE PILOT REPORTED THE WEATHER AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE WAS 500 FEET OVERCAST WITH VISIBILITY RESTRICTED TO 1.5 MILES IN FREEZING DRIZZLE.  THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH HIS ASSIGNED ALTITUDE OF 9000 FEET BECAUSE OF STRUCTURAL ICING.  HE ALSO REPORTED AN UNCOMMANDED DECREASE IN RPM IN THE LEFT ENGINE DURING THE EN ROUTE CLIMB. HE REPORTED TO ATC HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND REQUESTED AN 'IMMEDIATE' RETURN TO HIS DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRPLANE STALLED AS HE WAS TURNING FROM LEFT BASE TO FINAL FOR THE LANDING RUNWAY.  HE RECOVERED FROM THE STALL AND DECIDED TO 'PLACE' THE AIRCRAFT IN A FIELD.  THE PILOT REPORTED ANOTHER STALL, 'A FEW FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND CRASHED.'  A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED ICE BUILDUPS ON THE LEADING EDGE OF ALL AIRFOIL SURFACES AND THE UNDERSIDE OF THE WINGS.  NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS WERE DISCOVERED IN THE LEFT ENGINE OR PROPELLER SYSTEM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N777CM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N777CM-1994-04-13), registration cancelled 1994-04-13, S/N 500B117992 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 500-B
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 500-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-b) (registry code 0141106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 500B-1179-92
- Airframe hours: 16474
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-E1A5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Dewey Towner, doing business as Central Air Southwest
- Registered owner: Central Air Sw
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, November 12, 1992, 17 hours before
- Destination: HSI, HASTINGS, NE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MCK, Mccook Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,010 total, 760 in this make and model, 2,730 as pilot in command, 235 in the last 90 days, 77 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 50° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MCK, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19921123047649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921123047649A), Nov 23, 1992: Gulstm 500B, Mccook, NE, Substantial damage. Accumulated heavy icing. Diverted. Stalled turning base. Recovered but unable make runway. Forecast freezing rain.

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.

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