# NTSB NYC89FA053: Cessna 414, N244RM, Franklin Twp, PA, December 22, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 22, 1988, 08:38 local (13:38 UTC)
- Place: Franklin Twp, PA
- Coordinates: 41.899509, -80.340858 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8995&lon=-80.3409&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36261
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89FA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36261/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89FA053

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - weather condition - clouds
  - maneuver - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, check pilot (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering

## Analysis

BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE CREW INDCD THE FLT WOULD BE FOR 'CHECK RIDES' & THAT THEY PLANNED TO 'SHOOT APPROACHES' & PROCEED TO THE PRACTICE AREA TO DO SOME AIRWORK. ATC ADVISED THE PLTS THAT THE CLOUD BASES WERE AT 3500 FEET MSL. ELEVATION OF THE TERRAIN (WHERE THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED) WAS 1225 FEET. PRIOR TO THE ACDNT, WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT CIRCLING IN A STEEP TURN AT LOW ALTITUDE. ONE WITNESS RPRTD IT WAS CIRCLING AS IF TO LAND. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT IMPACTED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN, SLIGHT LEFT WING LOW, ATTITUDE. SEVERAL WITNESSES RPRTD THAT ONE OR BOTH ENGS SPUTTERED BEFORE THE ACFT CRASHED; HOWEVER, AN EXAM OF THE ENGS REVEALED NO INDCN OF A PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. AN EXAM OF THE AIRFRAME REVEALED THE LANDING GEAR WAS IN THE EXTENDED POSITION WHEN THE ACFT CRASHED. EXAM OF THE PROPS INDICATED THAT BOTH ENGS WERE PRODUCING AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF POWER. THE AIRWORK TO BE COMPLETED INCLUDED STEEP TURNS, STALLS, AND FLIGHT AT MINIMUM CONTROL AIRSPEED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N244RM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N244RM-1991-03-22), registration cancelled 1991-03-22, S/N 4140823 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 414
- Registry model: [Cessna 414](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-414) (registry code 2075908) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0823
- Airframe hours: 4521
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520(NB) 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Erie Airways
- Registered owner: Erie Airways Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 3, 1988, 50 hours before
- Departed: ERI, ERIE, PA
- Airport: ERI, Erie

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,712 total, 154 in this make and model, 1,498 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ERI, 10 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 19881222056979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881222056979A), Dec 22, 1988: Cessna 414, Erie, PA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Seen maneuvering in steep low speed turn. Damage indicates a stall. Twelve month flight check included steep turns

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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