Cessna 340A accident near Richland, WA
On July 27, 1996, a Cessna 340A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Richland, WA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 27, 1996
- Place
- Richland, WA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 46.250°N, 119.291°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X06356
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 27, 1996, approximately 0855 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 340A, N341TL, registered to FBN, Inc., and being flown by a certificated private pilot accompanied by an airline transport pilot, was destroyed upon collision with terrain during an uncontrolled descent following a loss of control in flight while in the traffic pattern at the Richland airport, Richland, Washington. Both pilots were fatally injured and a post crash fire consumed the aircraft. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from the Pasco Airport, Pasco, Washington, located eight nautical miles east of the crash site, at 0832. According to the private pilot's wife, the flight was to have been conducted for the purpose of instructional training for her husband to qualify him in the aircraft. The private pilot was believed to have occupied the front left seat with the airline transport pilot occupying the front right seat. A number of witnesses from the south through the west, north and east reported observing the aircraft prior to and at the time of the accident (refer to attached statements). One witness located south of the accident site and near the southwest boundary of the airport reported seeing the aircraft "fly over the 01 runway at 650 (feet) MSL (mean sea level) with one engine running very badly" - "the left engine was not operating." He further reported "approx(imately) one to two min(utes) later I saw the plane going into the ground at approx(imately) a 70 to 80 degree
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command's allowing the aircraft's airspeed to decrease below the single-engine minimum control speed (Vmc) resulting in a stall/spin condition. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot-in-command's allowing the left engine to be shut down as well as his allowing the aircraft's airspeed to decelerate below the manufacturer's recommended intentional one-engine inoperative air
More accidents in WA
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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.
