# NTSB FTW90GA137: Cessna 404, N6239G, San Angelo, TX, July 8, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: July 8, 1990, 12:36 local (17:36 UTC)
- Place: San Angelo, TX
- Location: 31.4638° N, 100.4370° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Angelo, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4638&lon=-100.4370&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 10, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23048
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90GA137
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23048/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90GA137

## Probable cause

IMPROPER USE OF POWERPLANT CONTROLS BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC).   FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  THE PIC'S INADEQUATE CREW COORDINATION,  AND THE EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED AND RATE OF DESCENT  THAT RESULTED, WHEN THE PIC MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT BACK ON COURSE AND GLIDE PATH.

## Sequence of events

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

- Abrupt maneuver, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - tailwind
  - proper altitude - not attained, copilot/second pilot
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of engine power, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - powerplant controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - crew/group coordination - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - emergency procedure - not attained, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - fence

## Analysis

FM 9500' MSL AT 35 DME, COPLT (SIC) BGN (HOODED TYPE) ILS RWY 3 APCH WITH 14 TO 22 KT TAILWIND. HE PLANNED NOT TO EXCEED500'/MIN RATE OF DSCNT TO AVOID SUPERCOOLING ENGS. PIC RPRTD ACFT WAS OFF COURSE & ABT 1500' HI AS IT APCHD OM. HE TOOK CTL & MNVRD ACFT ON COURSE & GP, THEN RTRND CTL TO SIC TO CONT ILS. DRG MNVR, 2500'/MIN DSCNT OCCURRED; SPD INCRD 31 KT.AS APCH CONTD, PIC EXTDD GEAR & FLAPS. AS ACFT SLOWED & BGN SETTLING, SIC ADVND THROTTLES, BUT ENGS DIDN'T RESPOND. PIC TOOK CTL & BOTH PLTS MANIPULATED ENG CTLS, BUT PWR WASN'T RESTORED. RECALLATIONS DIFFERED; NEITHER PLT COULD RECALL ENG INST INDCNS. GEAR COLLAPSED AS ACFT CTCD GND SHORT OF RWY & SLID THRU FENCE. MIX CTLS WERE FND ABT 4 TO 5 'CLICKS' AFT OF FULL FWD PSN, THROTTLES FND AT ABT 3/4 FWD PSN; ABT 80 GAL OF FUEL FND IN WING TANKS. INV REVEALED SERIES OF MAINT WRITE-UPS NOTING ENGS HAD RUN RICH & ROUGH, BUT NO PRE-ACDNT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. ENGS OPNLY CHECKED OK.REAR SEAT PAX THOUGHT PIC PULLED PROP CTLS 'DOWN' & BACK FWD. GND WITNESS RPRTD SOUND AS IF 'PROP REVERSERS REVVED UP.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6239G (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 404
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 404-0229
- Airframe hours: 5885
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-M2 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Operator: U.S. Customs
- Registered owner: U.S. Customs
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, July 3, 1990, 13 hours before
- Departed: SJT
- Destination: SJT
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: SJI, Mathis Field, runway 3, 5,939 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,363 total, 169 in this make and model, 4,460 as pilot in command, 98 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 16 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,600 ft broken
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SJT, 1 nm away

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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