- Date
- January 21, 1985, 01:04 local (09:04 UTC)
- Place
- Reno, NV
- Injuries
- 70 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5532Lockheed 188C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations
- Yes
- FAA report
- 19850121017109A
- Case key
- 15827
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
Analysis
Shortly after galaxy airlines flt 203 lifted off from rwy 16R, the coplt transmitted that they would like to 'make a left downwind, we gotta get back on the ground.' He then rprtd that there was a hvy vibration in the acft. Flt 203 was cleared as requested, but a short time later, the acft dscndd & crashed about 1-1/2 mi from the rwy. Investigation revealed evidence that the ground handlers had failed to properly close an air start access door, while they were servicing the acft, due to a disruption. Info from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) indicated that after the door began vibrating, power was reduced in all 4 engs. Subsequently, the acft began buffeting & lost excessive altitude before power was restored. When the acft crashed, a store & 7 recreational vehicles were also damaged.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5532
- Reported as
- Lockheed 188C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1121
- Airframe hours
- 34,148
- Engine
- Allison 501-D13, turbo prop
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Galaxy Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Consolidated Carrier Int'L
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Destination
- MSP · Minneapolis, MN
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- RNO · Reno Cannon Intl, runway 16R, 9,000 × 150 ft, concrete
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 14,500 total · 5,600 in this make and model · 123 in the last 90 days · 55 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 27 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RNO, 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.