Cessna 401A accident near Spokane, WA
On January 9, 1996, a Cessna 401A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Spokane, WA. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 9, 1996
- Place
- Spokane, WA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 401A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 47.640°N, 117.590°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X05198
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 8, 1996, at 1907 Pacific standard time, N117AC, a Cessna 401, operated by Pacific States Charter Services, Inc., as Aeromed Lifeguard 117AC, collided with a pole and a building during an instrument approach to runway 3 at the Spokane International Airport, Spokane, Washington. The airplane was destroyed and there was a ground fire. The commercial pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. A third passenger received serious injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The air medical transport flight departed from Pasco, Washington, at 1829 and was destined for Spokane. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR 135. In an interview (record attached) with the Safety Board, the sole survivor of the accident stated that he was at home near Kennewick, Washington, and "on call" as Aeromed's flight paramedic on the day of the accident. He stated he received a telephone call from the accident pilot who told him that a patient needed to be flown from Pasco to Spokane for urgent medical treatment. The paramedic later arrived at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Pasco to review the patient's charts. He was met by the pilot and a flight nurse. The paramedic stated that the patient's condition was "critical" and that he "didn't think she would make it" to Spokane. Nevertheless, the three Aeromed employees "wasted no time" to get to the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco in order to fly the patient to the Spokane International Airport for emergency surgery at the Deaconess Hospital in Spokane
Probable cause
failure of the pilot to follow proper IFR procedures, by failing to maintain proper alignment with the localizer course during the ILS approach and/or by failing to follow the proper missed approach procedure. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness; adverse weather conditions; and pressure on the pilot to complete the EMS flight, due to the circumstances and conditions that prevailed.
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Browse: Washington · 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.
