# NTSB DCA83AA013: Convair 580-11-A, N8444H, Brainerd, MN, January 10, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: January 9, 1983, 19:40 local (Jan 10, 1983, 01:40 UTC)
- Place: Brainerd, MN
- Coordinates: 46.349407, -94.190246 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3494&lon=-94.1902&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious, 31 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15776
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA83AA013
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15776/pdf
- Board report AAR8308 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8308.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA83AA013

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - airport snow removal - improper, airport personnel (contributing factor)
  - notams - not issued, airport personnel (contributing factor)
  - unsafe/hazardous condition - not identified, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icy (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - slush covered (contributing factor)
  - directional control - reduced
  - terrain condition - snowbank (cause)

## Analysis

DURING ARRIVAL, THE ACFT WAS LANDED ABOUT 1725 FT BEYOND THE RWY THRESHOLD. THE TOUCHDOWN WAS MADE WITH THE RIGHT WING DOWN & THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR ABOUT 37 FT FROM THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE RWY. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT CONTINUED TO THE RIGHT & THE RIGHT PROPELLER STRUCK A 2 TO 3 FT HIGH SNOWBANK WHICH WAS BETWEEN THE EDGE OF THE RWY & THE RWY EDGE LIGHTS. THE #1 BLADE SEPARATED FROM THE PROPELLER & ENTERED THE CABIN, FATALLY INJURING 1 PASSENGER & SERIOUSLY INJURING ANOTHER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT RWY PLOWING ACTIVITIES, 2 DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, HAD LEFT SNOWBANKS AT THE EDGE OF THE RWY INSIDE THE RWY EDGE LIGHTS.  THEY HAD NOT BEEN REMOVED PER 14 CFR 139.85 & ARPT OPNS MANUAL. THERE WAS NO NOTAM FOR SNOWBANKS & THE COMPANY STATION MANAGER DID NOT NOTIFY THE AIRCREW ABOUT THEIR LOCATION. THE FLTCREW WERE NOT AWARE THAT WHEN THE 1ST OFFICER DIMMED THE INTENSITY OF THE APCH LIGHTS (BY ACTIVATING THE MIC SWITCH) THAT THE RWY EDGE LIGHTS ALSO DIMMED. THE CAPT BELIEVED HE LOST SOME PERIPHERAL CUES AFTER TOUCHDOWN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8444H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8444H-1994-06-03), registration cancelled 1994-06-03, S/N 327A (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CONVAIR 580-11-A
- Registry model: [Convair 440](https://openairdocs.org/model/convair-440) (registry code 2422902) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 327A
- Airframe hours: 39511
- Engines: ALLISON 501D-13 3750 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Republic Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: MSP, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
- Destination: BRD, BRAINERD, MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: Brainerd Crow Wing Co, runway 23, 6,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 12,730 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 232 in the last 90 days, 77 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BRD

## 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 19830109001559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830109001559A), Jan 9, 1983: Cvac STCAPJC, Brainerd, MN, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. On rollout, right propeller struck snowbank. Propeller blade came off. One blade entered cabin. Passenger killed.

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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