Cessna 320E accident near Battle Mountain, NV
On May 28, 1994, a Cessna 320E (airplane) was involved in an accident near Battle Mountain, NV. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 28, 1994
- Place
- Battle Mountain, NV
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320E · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 40.470°N, 117.029°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X01275
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 28, 1994, at 0830 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 310E, N3472Q, was destroyed upon impact with terrain near Battle Mountain, Nevada. The airline transport rated pilot and his passenger sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. According to the operator, the restricted category airplane was equipped with electronic surveying equipment for low level airborne magnetic mapping surveys for mineral exploration. Due to the sensitivity of the equipment, most missions were flown in the early morning hours, or in the early evenings, when the winds were calm and the area was void of updrafts or downdrafts. The flight departed with full fuel from the Lander County Airport near Battle Mountain, Nevada, at 0507. The mission profile was to conduct a series of low level flights at an altitude from 500 feet above the ground (AGL) to a minimum altitude of 200 feet AGL. Sheepherders near the accident site reported observing the airplane performing low level maneuvers in their vicinity, observed the airplane cross a ridge line as the airplane continued away from their location, and subsequently heard what they described as "two popping sounds similar to shotgun blasts." The airplane was located on the east slope of the Shoshone Mountain Range by the local authorities at 0631 on May 30, 1994. PERSONNEL INFORMATION According to the operator, the pilot was hired on June 20, 1990, and had been flying with them in the same capacity since then. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records indicated the pilot had a total fligh
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE WHILE MANEUVERING DURING A LOW LEVEL AERIAL MAPPING FLIGHT. A FACTOR WAS THE BOX CANYON.
More accidents in NV
- Cessna 425, Jan 12, 1992
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Browse: Nevada · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
