DEN84FA008

NTSB accident investigation · Convair 340/440 · Pierre, SD · October 20, 1983

Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal report
Date
October 19, 1983, 22:36 local (Oct 20, 1983, 03:36 UTC)
Place
Pierre, SD
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N199CFConvair 340/440
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19831019073799A
Case key
16174

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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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.

In flight collision with terrain/waterTakeoff - initial climb
Preflight planning/preparation - improperPilot in commandFactor
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - fogFactor
Proper climb rate - not maintainedCopilot/second pilotCause
Procedures/directives - not followedCopilot/second pilot
Raising of flaps - prematureCopilot/second pilotCause
Supervision - inadequatePilot in commandCause

Analysis

After landing at Pierre, SD, 2070 lbs of cargo was off-loaded from the aft section of the aft & a new wt & balance was calculated. The aircrew then prepared to takeoff in conditions of low ceiling & fog. The plt-in-command (PIC) initiated the takeoff roll, then at about 80 KTS, the copilot assumed control as prebriefed. The takeoff was reported as normal until the flaps were retracted. At about that time, the copilot saw red lights ahead. He assumed the lights were on radio antenna towers & pulled back on the yoke while banking right to miss the objects. The red lights were actually on small structures (shed & lighting systems) at the north end of rwy 31. While taking evasive action, the right wing dug into the soft ground & the plane crashed. Witness said the acft was in a shallow climb after lift-off. One witness said it climbed to about 100 ft, then appear to lose alt. The elevator trim surfaces were found in the 1 to 2 deg up-trim position. According to procedures, the flaps should not have been retracted until above 400 ft AGL.

Aircraft

Registration
N199CF
Reported as
Convair 340/440
Category
Airplane
Serial number
199
Airframe hours
48,327
Engine
P&W R-2800, 2,400 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 121
Registered owner
Combs Airways Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Last inspection
AAIP · October 17, 1983 · 10 hours before
Destination
BIS · Bismark, ND
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
PIR · Pierre Muni, runway 31, 6,898 × 150 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
32
Certificates
Airline transport, Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
5,570 total · 2,600 in this make and model · 4,800 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 65 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Wind
300° at 8 knots
Temperature
45 °F, dew point 43 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 1

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