# NTSB FTW95LA115: Cessna 414, N4643G, Mcgregor, TX, February 14, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 14, 1995, 01:08 local (07:08 UTC) - Place: Mcgregor, TX - Coordinates: 31.449962, -97.370048 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4500&lon=-97.3700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 29, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19353 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19353/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA115 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S DELAYED INITIATION OF THE MISSED APPROACH UNTIL WELL BELOW THE MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE AND BEYOND THE PUBLISHED MISSED APPROACH POINT. FACTORS WERE THE DARK NIGHT AND THE LOW CEILING AND VISIBILITY. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, missed approach (ifr) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - missed approach - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS CLEARED FOR THE VOR RUNWAY 17 APPROACH. FIELD ELEVATION AND THE MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE WERE 590 AND 980 FEET RESPECTIVELY. THE MISSED APPROACH POINT WAS 10.4 MILES OUTBOUND FROM THE WACO VOR, WHICH COINCIDED WITH THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEATED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT ESTABLISHED VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE AIRPORT. AFTER CONFIRMING THAT THE AIRPORT WAS IN SIGHT AND THE RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT IDENTIFIED, THE PILOT CONTINUED HIS DESCENT TOWARDS THE RUNWAY TO LAND ON RUNWAY 17. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT 'I REALIZED THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATE RUNWAY TO SAFELY LAND, AND INITIATED A RIGHT TURN TO EXECUTE A MISSED APPROACH.' THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TOP OF THE TREES. THE FAA INSPECTOR AT THE SCENE REPORTED THAT AFTER IMPACTING THE TREES, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED THROUGH THE TREES FOR APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET ON A TRACK OF 344 DEGREES PRIOR TO COMING TO REST ON A HEADING OF 230 DEGREES. ## Factual narrative On February 14, 1995, at 0108 central standard time, a Cessna 414, N4643G, was destroyed upon impact with trees and terrain while on an instrument approach to the McGregor Airport, near McGregor, Texas. The instrument rated private pilot was not injured, while his three passengers sustained minor injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the personal dark night cross country flight. According to air traffic control (ATC), the pilot filed an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan with Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, Departure Control while on climbout from the Portales Municipal Airport (Q34), and was issued an IFR clearance to the McGregor Airport (F60). After receiving the weather and altimeter setting for the destination airport, the pilot was cleared for the VOR Runway 17 approach. Field elevation and the minimum descent altitude were 590 and 980 feet respectively. The missed approach point was 10.4 miles outbound from the Waco VOR, which coincided with the runway threshold. The pilot stated that the passenger seated in the right front seat established visual contact with the airport. After confirming that the airport was in sight and the runway environment identified, the pilot continued his descent towards the runway to land on Runway 17. The pilot further stated that "I realized that there would not be adequate runway to safely land, and initiated a right turn to execute a missed approach." The right wing of the airplane impacted the top of the trees. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector at the scene reported that after impacting the trees, the airplane continued through the trees for approximately 400 feet on a measured heading of 344 degrees prior to coming to rest on a heading of 230 degrees. The airplane was destroyed by impact and post impact fire; however, the cabin and cockpit area were not compromised. The 0155 weather observation at F60 was sky partially obscured, 100 feet broken, visibility 1.75 miles in fog and drizzle. The pilot reported 300 feet broken and visibility 1.5 miles. ## Aircraft - Registration: N4643G (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 414 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 414-0911 - Airframe hours: 4083 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-NB 335 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hermann, Scotty R., M.D. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 16, 1994, 31 hours before - Departed: Q34, PORTALES, NM - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: F60, Mcgregor Municipal, runway 17, 5,499 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 651 total, 318 in this make and model, 603 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 70° at 5 knots - Visibility: 1.75 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft broken - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: F60, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950214001719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950214001719A), Feb 14, 1995: Cessna 414, Mcgregor, TX, Destroyed. Too high to land on VOR approach began missed approach. Banked right and wing struck trees. Continued for 400FT. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.