# NTSB CHI93LA070: Aero Commander 500-B, N712AC, Susank, KS, January 12, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 11, 1993, 19:55 local (Jan 12, 1993, 01:55 UTC)
- Place: Susank, KS
- Location: 38.6407° N, 98.7745° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Susank, KS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6407&lon=-98.7745&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15649
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93LA070
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15649/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA070

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER AND THE OWNER'S REPRESENTATION THAT THE AIRPLANE MET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FLIGHT INTO ICING CONDITIONS. THE WEATHER AND AIRFRAME ICE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - insufficient standards/requirements, company/operator mgmt (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, missed approach (ifr)
  - wing - ice (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT RECEIVED TWO WX BRIEFINGS; BOTH INDICATING ICING CONDITIONS EN ROUTE TO HAYS. IN ADDITION, BOTH BRIEFINGS ADVISED OF A SIGMET FOR REPORTED MODERATE-TO-SEVERE ICING IN FREEZING RAIN BELOW 4500 FT MSL. HE TELEPHONED BOTH DISPATCH AND THE CHIEF PILOT; THE CONSENSUS WAS THAT THE WX HAD NOT DEVELOPED AS FORECAST AND THE ADVERSE WX APPEARED TO BE EAST OF HAYS (1ST LANDING LOCATION). WHILE DESCENDING INTO HAYS, THE AIRPLANE ACCUMULATED ICE RAPIDLY. THE PILOT DID NOT SEE THE FIELD AT MDA AND EXECUTED A MISSED APPROACH. HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY UNABLE TO CLIMB OUT OF ICING CONDITIONS, AND THE AIRPLANE SETTLED TO THE GROUND WITH FULL POWER. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED FOR FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS. IT DID INCORPORATE STC SA2573CE WHICH INSTALLS SYNTHETIC RUDDER STRIPS ON THE WING/TAIL LEADING EDGES. THE ANTI-ICING 'SHOES' ARE SPRAYED WITH GLYCOL TO HELP PREVENT ICE BUILD-UP IF ICING CONDITIONS ARE ENCOUNTERED IN FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE OWNER REPRESENTED THE STC AS MEETING FAR 135.227 FOR FLIGHT INTO ICING CONDITIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N712AC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N712AC-2000-03-20), registration cancelled 2000-03-20, S/N 500B-1100-61 (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: 1100-61
- Airframe hours: 5913
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-E1A5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Central Airlines, Inc., doing business as Central Air Southwest
- Registered owner: Central Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, January 3, 1993, 6 hours before
- Departed: GLD, GOODLAND, KS
- Destination: HYS, HAYS, KS
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,200 total, 800 in this make and model, 1,950 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 180° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Observed at: RSL, 14 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 19930111000939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930111000939A), Jan 11, 1993: Gulstm 500B, Hays, KS, Substantial damage. Briefing for severe icing and freezing rain en route below 4000FT. Iced up descending. Missed approach. Impacted.

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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