# NTSB MKC88FA032: Cessna 402C, N105GP, Chadron, NE, December 23, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 22, 1987, 20:57 local (Dec 23, 1987, 03:57 UTC)
- Place: Chadron, NE
- Coordinates: 42.820495, -103.000923 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8205&lon=-103.0009&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34478
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC88FA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34478/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC88FA032

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - planned approach - discontinued
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ON A FLT TO CHADRON VIA CHADRON VOR. ABT 30 MI SSE OF THE VOR, THE PLT REQD & WAS CLRD TO FLY DRCT TO ACKMEIAF FOR AN NDB RWY 2 APCH. THE ACFT CONTD TWD THE VOR WHICH WAS IN THE SAME GENERAL DRCTN, BUT 11.9 MI SOUTH OF ACKME. THE NDB WAS AT THE ARPT. ACKME IAF WAS 9 MI SW OF THE ARPT ON A BRG OF 227 DEG & DEFINED BY AN INTXN WITH THE 356 DEG RADIAL OF THE VOR. ABT 3 TO 4 MI SE OF THE VOR, RADAR SVC WAS TRMTD & FREQ CHG WAS MADE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT STRUCK TREES ON A RIDGE & CRASHED. INITIAL IMPACT OCCURRED IN WINGS LVL FLT AT APRX 4480' ON A DRCT ROUTE BTN THE VOR & ACKME IAF. AN INV REVEALED THAT AFTER THE FREQ CHG, THE ACFT CONTD TO THE VOR, THEN MNVRD AS IF THE PLT WAS FLYING THE NDB APCH, BUT WAS USING THE VOR AS THE IAF. RADAR DATA SHOWED CTC WAS LOST AFTER A PROCEDURE TURN WAS MADE & THE ACFT WAS OUTBND ABT 6 MI NE OF THE VOR. THE CRASH SITE, HOWEVER, WAS ABT 3 MI WSW OF WHERE RADAR CTC WAS LAST RECORDED. THE WX AT CHADRON WAS IN PART: 500' OVC, 1.5 MI VIS WITH LGT SNW & FOG. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N105GP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N105GP-1992-03-05), registration cancelled 1992-03-05, S/N 402C0642 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 402C
- Registry model: [Cessna 402C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402c) (registry code 207590R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 402C-0642
- Airframe hours: 8229
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-VB 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: G.P. Express
- Registered owner: Rondot Enterprises Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, December 18, 1987, 30 hours before
- Departed: AIA, ALLIANCE, NE
- Destination: CDR, CHADRON, NE
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,865 total, 169 in this make and model, 6,656 as pilot in command, 207 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 20° at 11 knots
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CDR, 14 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 19871222080059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871222080059A), Dec 22, 1987: Cessna 402C, Chadron, NE, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Struck trees on a ridge during an incorrect NDB approach procedure. Captain had extensive cardiovascular disease.

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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