CHI95LA089

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna T310R · Grand Island, NE · February 15, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 14, 1995, 19:30 local (Feb 15, 1995, 01:30 UTC)
Place
Grand Island, NE
Injuries
4 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N4092CCessna T310R
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 31, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950214002209A
Case key
9839

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's failure to deploy the deicing boots during the approach and the failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing. A factor related to the accident was the existing icing conditions.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Hard landingLanding - flare/touchdown
Weather condition - icing conditionsFactor
Anti-ice/deice system - not deployedPilot in commandCause
Airframe - ice
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Analysis

The pilot flew a localizer/backcourse which resulted in a missed approach. He stated he picked up a light build-up of ice during the approach but it melted when he reached an altitude of 5,000 feet prior to starting the next approach. He stated that the next approach was normal until landing when the airplane touched down hard. The airplane had 1/2' to 3/4' of ice on the leading edge of the wings. The pilot stated he did not activate the deice boots during the approach and that he should have carried extra speed during the landing.

Factual narrative

On February 14, 1995, at 1930 central standard time, a Cessna 310, N4092C, registered to Miller Flying Service, was substantially damaged during a hard landing on runway 35 at the Central Nebraska Regional Airport, Grand Island, Nebraska. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Sterling, Colorado, on February 14, 1995, at 1730 mountain standard time. The pilot stated he first flew the localizer/backcourse approach to runway 17. This resulted in a missed approach. The pilot stated that the airplane picked up a light ice built-up during the approach but it melted off immediately once he reached 5,000 feet as the cloud tops were at 4,800 feet.

The pilot then elected to fly the ILS 35. He stated he stayed at 5,000 feet until established on the localizer, then descended to 4,000 feet prior to flying the localizer. The pilot continued to report that the approach was normal until he began his landing flare at which point the "...nose of the aircraft failed to raise and the rate of descent was still too fast." The pilot stated he added power and the nose of the airplane came up but it was too late and a hard landing resulted. The pilot stated there was 1/2" to 3/4" of ice on the leading edge of the both wings.

In the Recommendation section of the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 completed by the pilot he stated he should have carried more power during the landing and he should have cycled the deice boots between the final approach fix and landing.

The operator of the airplane holds a CFR 14 Part 135 On-Demand Air Taxi Certificate. This flight was conducted under that certificate; however, the pilot was not listed on the certificate. The pilot reported on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 that there were no passengers on the airplane. However, the IFR flight plan he filed indicated 4 people on board. During a subsequent conversation with a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector the pilot stated that there were in fact 3 passengers on board.

The pilot received a weather briefing prior to the flight. During this briefing, he was informed of an Airmet for icing.

Aircraft

Registration
N4092C
Reported as
Cessna T310R
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1369
Airframe hours
2,664
Engine
Continental TSIO-520-B, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 135
Registered owner
Miller Flying Service
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · February 10, 1995 · 4 hours before
Departed
STK · Sterling, CO
Destination
GRI
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
GRI · Central Nebraska Regional, runway 35, 7,001 × 150 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
35
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,216 total · 115 in this make and model · 1,154 as pilot in command · 64 in the last 90 days · 22 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Wind
160° at 16 knots
Visibility
1 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
300 ft overcast
Temperature
28 °F, dew point 28 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
GRI

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 13, 1995, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.7 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.