Cessna 401 accident near Chanute, KS
On May 11, 2012, a Cessna 401 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Chanute, KS. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 11, 2012
- Place
- Chanute, KS
- Aircraft
- Cessna 401 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 37.638°N, 96.613°W
- NTSB ID
- 20120511X83220
Official records · CEN12FA290
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Reports from Federal Agencies: Partial transcript from FAA ARTCC accident file: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 11, 2012, approximately 1630 central daylight time, a Cessna 401 airplane, N9DM, collided with terrain near Chanute, Kansas. A post crash fire ensued. The commercial pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. One passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to DRDJ Sales and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which operated on an instrument flight rules plan. The cross-country flight departed the Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. Airport (RVS), Tulsa, Oklahoma, approximately 1545, for the Council Bluffs Municipal Airport (CBF), Council Bluffs, Iowa. The survivor of the accident provided a written statement of the accident. She reported that when the pilot turned on the heater, a “terrible smell” was detected. The pilot told the passengers that the smell was normal for some heaters. When the pilot turned the heater off, dark, black smoke began to enter the airplane, which made it difficult to see. In an attempt to extinguish the fire, they poured water bottles in the vents, which had not effect. The pilot quickly descended. During the emergency landing, the pilot attempted to pull up, but the wing tip hit the ground first. The passenger thought the airplane rolled as it hit the ground. Another passenger assisted her in egressing from the airplane, but that survivor later succumbed to his injuries. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 23, held a commercial pilot certifica
Probable cause
The malfunction of the cabin heater, which resulted in an inflight fire and smoke in the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of understanding concerning the status of the airplane's heater system following and earlier overheat event and risk of its continued use. Also contributing were the inadequate inspection criteria for the cabin heater.
More accidents in KS
- Sikorsky S-76B, Jul 5, 2001
- Cessna 421C Riley Turbine E, Jan 21, 2005
- Cessna 210M, Nov 6, 1983
- Beech A36, Jul 7, 1994
- Beech 58, Apr 22, 2011
Browse: Kansas · 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.
