# NTSB NYC73FHD31: Beech A90, N4646S, Wilmington, DE, April 4, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 4, 1973
- Place: Wilmington, DE · WILMINGTON, DE
- Location: 39.7357° N, 75.5321° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wilmington, DE, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7357&lon=-75.5321&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 25, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170675
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC73FHD31
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73FHD31

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0833   73/4/4    WILMINGTON,DEL      BEECH A90           CR-  0  0  2  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1304                    N4646S              PX-  0  0  4  CORP/EXEC                 30, 3977 TOTAL HOURS, 512
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WILMINGTON
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MIDDLETOWN,DEL              BALTIMORE,MD
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLIDED WITH: RUNWAY OR APPROACH LIGHTS                 LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT FACILITIES: RUNWAY LIGHTING
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  700
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          FOG                                                      RIGHT CROSS WIND 068-112 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           52                                                       80
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           15                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- OPS MANUAL REC USE OF AUTO-IGNITION SYS DURING RAIN,ICING COND.WIND GUSTING 23K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4646S (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A90
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Wilmington

## 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 19730404009389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730404009389A), Apr 4, 1973: Hwksly DH1251A, Wilmington, DE, Substantial damage. Ops manual rec use of auto-ignition sys during rain,icing cond. Wind gusting 23K.

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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