# NTSB MKC88FA042: Gulfstream 500B, N611CA, Pierceville, KS, January 20, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 19, 1988, 19:46 local (Jan 20, 1988, 01:46 UTC)
- Place: Pierceville, KS
- Coordinates: 37.879196, -100.669181 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8792&lon=-100.6692&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34483
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC88FA042
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34483/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC88FA042

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - 1 engine
  - powerplant - undetermined (cause)
  - propeller feathering - performed, pilot in command
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vmc) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - frozen
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT DPTD GARDEN CITY UNDER EXTREMELY POOR WX COND'S. MORE THAN HALF WAY TO DODGE CITY, THE PIC RPTD ENG PBLMS TO KANSAS CITY (ARTCC). VECTORS WERE PROVIDED TO THE DODGE CITY ARPT, BUT THE PIC DID NOT MAINTAIN ASSIGNED HDGS. THE ACFT HEADED BACK TOWARDS GARDEN CITY TO ATTEMPT AN INST APPRCH. RADAR VECTORS WERE PROVIDED FOR THE LOCALIZER APPRCH. RADAR INDICATED THAT THE ACFT DID NOT BECOME STABILIZED ON THE APPRCH. THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF GRNDSPD AS THE PLT WAS ATTMPTNG TO GET ESTABLISHED ON THE LOCALIZER. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST ABT 2 MI FM THE ARPT AT A SPD APPRCHNG STALL SPD FOR THIS ACFT. THE ACFT CRASHED ABT 2 MI SHORT AND TO THE RT OF COURSE. THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE ON HDG WHICH INDICATED A TURN AWAY FM THE ARPT. THE LEFT PROP WAS FOUND IN THE FEATHER POSITION. NO MECH PBLM WAS DISCOVERED. THE RT ENG APPEARED TO BE PRODUCING FULL PWR AT IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N611CA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N611CA-1989-03-09), registration cancelled 1989-03-09, S/N 500B9227 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Gulfstream 500B
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 500-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-b) (registry code 0141106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 922 7
- Airframe hours: 6713
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-B1A5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Central Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: Central Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, January 4, 1988, 19 hours before
- Departed: GCK, GARDEN CITY, KS
- Destination: ICT, WICHITA,, KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GCK, Garden City, runway 35, 5,999 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; 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: 2,125 total, 58 in this make and model, 2,125 as pilot in command, 226 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 340° at 30 knots, gusting 35
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft
- Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GCK, 2 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 19880119000939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880119000939A), Jan 19, 1988: Gulstm 500B, Garden City, KS, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Lost engine en route. Unable to hold heading lost control on LOC after erratic headings. Possible air intake icing

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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