Crash of a Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster in Reno: 1 killed
Date & Time:
Mar 22, 1995 at 0812 LT
Registration:
N9417B
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Sacramento - Reno
MSN:
208B-0065
YOM:
1987
Flight number:
UNF9840
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total hours on type:
200.00
Aircraft flight hours:
4959
Circumstances:
Approaching Reno, the pilot received an instrument clearance to perform a Localizer DME-1, Rwy 16R, approach, which the FAA had previously approved for the operator's use. The localizer centerline passed over a 6,161-foot msl mountain, which was depicted on the chart. The pilot was familiar with the area, having transported cargo from Sacramento to Reno for 5 days each week since December, 1994. IMC existed and light snow showers were present. ATC issued the pilot a series of instructions as he was radar vectored toward the final approach fix (FAF), which had a minimum crossing altitude of 6,700 feet msl. The pilot misstated four of the instructions during clearance readbacks and was corrected by ATC each time. Contact with the pilot was lost following issuance of his landing clearance. The airplane impacted the mountainside at an elevation of about 6,050 feet, while tracking inbound near the centerline of the localizer course, about 2.7 nautical miles before reaching the FAF. The airframe, engine, and avionics equipment were examined. No mechanical malfunctions were found.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to comply with published instrument approach procedures by a premature descent below the minimum altitude specified for the approach.
Final Report:
