Cessna 414 Chancellor

Aircraft was on its runway 29 approach when it collided with ground one mile from the airport. A witness saw he aircraft fly over the airport to the west between 500 to 1,500 feet. Witnesses near the accident site saw the aircraft making abrupt maneuvers at low altitude prior to the accident. Engine sounds was described as 'racing', 'uneven', and 'loud'. Weather condition was described as fog, low ceiling, and light rain. Another pilot in same type aircraft was unable to land due to weather. Examination of the aircraft did not disclosed evidence of malfunction. Flight approach navaid facilities flight checked to be operational. There was no evidence of pilot physical impairment or incapacitation. The aircraft collided with the ground in a near vertical attitude. All four occupants were killed.

The aircraft departed the airport in IFR conditions (snowing) and was observed staggering into the air. Shortly after takeoff the aircraft struck power lines and crashed into homes in a residential area. Investigation revealed that the aircraft had accumulated ice and in addition was over certified max gross weight. There was no evidence of airframe, flight control or engine failure/malfunction prior to impact with the power lines.

The aircraft was on IFR departure in minimal weather conditions. On takeoff roll, a power loss occurred on the right engine and the aircraft veered to the right. The pilot-in-command (owner) in left seat initiated aborted takeoff, but right seat pilot took control, continued takeoff and feathered the right propeller. Both pilots observed smoke from the engines on their respective sides, both thought landing gear was retracted. (Investigation revealed landing gear was down.) Aircraft could not maintain altitude, pilots elected to ditch in ocean. Investigation revealed aircraft had been serviced with 147 gallons of Jet fuel instead of Avgas at 0445 hrs by a fbo lineman. The lineman had 3 weeks total experience, 1 1/2 hrs video tape training and was working 2 jobs 7 days per week. All three occupants escaped uninjured.

The pilot was executing a second attempt for an instrument approach to runway 19, following a missed approach on the first attempt. The pilot last reported over the iaf, 9 miles north of the airport. The aircraft collided with a mountain at an elevation of 1,700 feet and 5 miles south of the airport. The wreckage was oriented on a 190° magnetic heading and near the extended centerline of runway 19. The mda for the approach is 1,680 feet msl. The map is a climbing right turn to 5,000 feet direct to the iaf. The airport is surrounded by mountains. The landing gear and flaps were found extended. Examination of the aircraft disclosed on evidence of malfunction. Both occupants were killed.

The aircraft entered an embedded thunderstorm after being advised by artc of several large areas of heavy precipitations in his area and along the vicinity of his flight path. The pilots response was that his aircraft radar showed no build-ups or returns. ATC allowed deviations at pilot's discretion according to the recorded taped conversation. The pilot continued his flight path and was lost on radar shortly thereafter in a descending right turn at 16,800 feet msl. Witnesses saw him exit the bottom of the cloud at about 1,000 feet agl. The wings were seen to separate from the fuselage. Other witnesses saw the fuselage descend inverted, minus the wings, empennage and engines, to impact in a corn field. The wreckage was scattered over an area 1 and 1/2 miles long and 1/2 mile wide. Witnesses who had observed the aircrafts preparations for departure described it as 'mass confusion' in the cockpit. The aircraft reportedly crept forward six times during an extended 10-15 minute checklist while the engines were running at a high rpm setting on a ramp with other aircraft and people around. All four occupants were killed.

After the second overshoot, the aircraft entered the circuit, and was cleared for a touch-and-go landing on Runway 17. The final approach was described as 'steep' and was flown with full (45°) flap. After a short ground run, the pilot under training opened the throttles, and. at about 80 knots, rotated the aircraft with the flaps still at the full (45 degree) setting. Shortly after becoming airborne, there was a loss of power, accompanied by vibration or buffeting; the aircraft yawed and rolled to the right, and the airspeed started to decay. The pilot under training then retracted the flaps to 30°, and, at this point, the instructor took control, closed the throttles, and landed the aircraft on the grass on a heading of about 200° magnetic. The aircraft than ran across the south western taxiway, through the airfield perimeter fence, across a public road, at which point the undercarriage collapsed, before finally coming to rest in an adjacent field. Both fuel tanks were ruptured by the impact with the fence posts, but there was no fire. The crew, who were uninjured, shut off the fuel cocks, switched off the electrics, and vacated the aircraft through the main entry door. The emergency services responded to this incident very quickly, and had arrived at the crash scene by the time the crew vacated the aircraft.

The aircraft was cleared for Mena NDB approach and to maintain 5,000 feet msl until established on the approach. Aircraft descended to 4,800 feet msl on approximately ground track of 040° to 030° after NDB passage. Aircraft then turned to a ground track of 116°. After 12 seconds the aircraft turned to a ground track of 350° during which the ground speed decreased to 93 knots. The aircraft descended to 4,600 feet msl with ground speed increasing to 140 knots. N68152 reported 'we've broken below - will cancel in just a moment.' Radar contact was lost with the aircraft descending to 3,000 feet msl on a heading of 304°. The wreckage was found 6 miles northwest of the airport at an elevation of 2,000 feet msl. The outbound approach heading is 080° with procedure turn heading of 125° and 305°. Reported winds aloft at 5,000 feet msl, 4,000 feet msl and 3,000 feet msl were 191° at 34 knots, 169° at 30 knots and 151° at 32 knots respectively. Both occupants were killed.

After departure at 1417 cst, radar track showed the aircraft climbing to and maintaining 7,600 feet until about 1733 est and 28-30 miles north of the Knoxville VOR. The aircraft then descended and crossed the snowbird VOR at about 6,700 feet. There were several up and down altitude excursions. After crossing snowbird VOR the aircraft turned south and again there were altitude excursions. The final radar contact was at 6,100 feet and about 1 mile from the crash site. The aircraft had impacted mountainous terrain at about 6,000 feet msl and 11 miles from the destination. Meteorological conditions at the crash site included low clouds and precipitation. The pilot's blood alcohol level was 0.4‰. Both occupants were killed.

During weather briefings the pilot was advised of icing conditions in the Denver area. While approaching the Denver area the pilot radioed 'can you get me down, it's a little bit icy up here.' The pilot was subsequently asked and was given a close turn onto the outer marker. The aircraft was observed to overfly the airport at about 500 feet agl. The pilot then acknowledge the missed approach instructions, and 1 minute later reported ...'lots of ice...' and '...i'm stalling out...' The pilot reportedly did not like to fly approaches to minimums and set the altitude alerter to an altitude above minimums as a safety margin. The pilot had logged 3.5 hours actual and 4.1 hours simulated instrument time, and 3 instrument approaches in the last 6 months. The aircraft's cg was 6 inches aft of the aft cg limit.

During the takeoff run, at 85 knots, the aircraft hit a bump and the pilot stated his forward vision was obstructed by water on the windshield. He instinctively pulled back on the controls and become airborne. He lost sight of the right side set of runway lights and was reportedly flying 'blind.' The aircraft drifted left into trees and came to rest in shallow water in a backwater area 150 feet north of the departure end of runway 10. Many of the runway lights were either not operating or were obstructed. No lights in the last 1000 feet of the runway were both operating and unobstructed. The noaa airport/facility director contains a remark for the airport 'runway subject to flooding after very heavy rains.' This remark does not appear in the Jeppesen 'airport directory' that the pilot was using. After the accident the pilot stated he walked through the eastern end of the runway and found himself 'up to his ankles' in about 3 inches of water. All four occupants escaped with minor injuries.