Crash of a Cessna 441 Conquest II in Harmon: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 2018 at 2240 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N441CX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bismarck - Williston
MSN:
441-0305
YOM:
1982
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
4685
Captain / Total hours on type:
70.00
Circumstances:
The pilot and two medical crewmembers were repositioning the airplane to pick up a patient for aeromedical transport. Dark night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight. Radar data showed the airplane climb to 14,000 ft mean sea level after departure and proceed direct toward the destination airport before beginning a right descending turn. The airplane subsequently broke up inflight and impacted terrain. No distress calls were received from the pilot before the accident. Although weather conditions were conducive for inflight icing, no evidence of structural icing was identified at the scene. The debris field was 2,500 ft long and the disbursement of the wreckage confirmed that both wings, the horizontal stabilizer, both elevators, and both engines separated from the airplane before impacting the ground. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the initiating failure was the failure of the wing where it passed through the center of the airplane. The three wing spars exhibited S-bending deformation, indicative of positive overload producing compressive buckling and fracture. Further, impact signatures as black paint transfers and gouged aluminum, were consistent with the left outboard wing separating when it was struck by the right engine after the wing spars failed. There was no evidence of any pre-exiting conditions that would have degraded the strength of the airplane structure at the fracture locations. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the engines, propellers, and available systems showed no mechanical malfunctions or failure that could have contributed to the accident. The descending right turn was inconsistent with the intended flight track and ATC-provided clearance. However, there was insufficient information to determine how it was initiated and when the pilot became aware of the airplane's state in the dark night IMC conditions. Yet, the
absence of a distress call or communication with ATC about the airplane's deviation suggests that the pilot was not initially aware of the change in state. The structural failure signatures on the airplane were indicative of the wings failing in positive overload, which was consistent with the pilot initiating a pullup maneuver that exceeded the airplane spars' structural integrity during an attempted recovery from the spiral dive.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane in dark night conditions that resulted in an in-flight positive overload failure of the wings and the subsequent in-flight breakup of the airplane.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage near Bigfork: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1998 at 0221 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N9247W
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bismarck – Kalispell
MSN:
46-22168
YOM:
1994
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
11450
Captain / Total hours on type:
920.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft disappeared from ATC radar immediately after being cleared to descend from 12,000 feet to 10,000 feet. ATC radar data showed the aircraft at 11,900 to 12,000 feet for approximately the last 6 minutes prior to the disappearance, with the last Mode C altitude and discrete transponder code 2402 (at 0221:03) reported as 11,800 feet. The last three returns, 12,000, 11,900, and 11,800, are consistent with the start of a descent from 12,000 feet. Due to construction at the radar antenna site, the area where the aircraft disappeared was blocked from radar coverage. Subsequent attempts by the controller to contact the aircraft were unsuccessful. A 7,000- to 7,500-foot overcast was reported at the destination, along with lower clouds and precipitation. Documentation at the accident site indicated an approximate level flight path from the broken treetops to the area of ground impact into a northwest-facing 60-degree mountain slope at approximately the 5,600-foot level. The wreckage was not located for approximately two months. Post-accident examinations of the aircraft's Bendix/King KEA130A (United Instruments 5035PB-P57) encoding altimeter revealed needle impressions on the indicator face and pointers consistent with an altitude indication of 12,620 feet. The internal components of the unit were severely damaged and a functional test was not possible. The aircraft was equipped with a copilot's altimeter. Only the faceplate was recovered and examined. One impression on the main faceplate revealed a needle impression by the 100-foot pointer consistent with 560 feet. The position of the 1,000-foot pointer could not be determined. The pilot's 4-day activity history showed that he was returning from a demanding 3-day work assignment, that his recent sleeping schedule was irregular, and that he had been awake about 20 hours at the time of the accident. There was no evidence found of a mechanical failure or malfunction at the time of the accident.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance for undetermined reasons. Contributing factors were the mountainous terrain, trees, dark night conditions, clouds and pilot fatigue.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster in Bismarck: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1998 at 0838 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N868FE
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Grand Forks - Bismarck
MSN:
208B-0193
YOM:
1989
Flight number:
FDX8738
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2265
Captain / Total hours on type:
19.00
Aircraft flight hours:
6140
Circumstances:
The airplane was making an instrument landing system approach in instrument meteorological icing conditions when control was lost. The airplane impacted the terrain 1.6 miles from the approach end on the runway. The airplane contacted the terrain with the left wing first prior to cartwheeling and coming to rest approximately 120 feet from the point of first impact. The pilot had 19 hours total flight time in Cessna 208's of which 1.9 hours were in actual instrument meteorological conditions.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the approach which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Factors associated with the accident were the icing conditions and the pilot's low level experience in this make and model of airplane.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Bismarck

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1972 at 2218 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N375C
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dickinson - Bismarck
MSN:
A-600
YOM:
1951
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5079
Circumstances:
While on a night approach to Bismarck Airport on a cargo flight from Dickinson, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the twin engine airplane struck power cables, lost height and crashed in an open field located few miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot who failed to follow the approved procedures. The following factors were reported:
- Instrument misread or failed to read,
- Altimeter setting incorrect,
- High obstructions,
- Hit power cables on VOR approach,
- Altitude setting 30.89 and 30.13 in aircraft while approach transmitted 29.75,
- The pilot was not wearing glasses.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S near Bismarck

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1972 at 0300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N57CC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Jamestown - Bismarck
MSN:
A-277
YOM:
1946
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2326
Captain / Total hours on type:
477.00
Circumstances:
While cruising by night on a cargo flight from Jamestown to Bismarck, the pilot, a full time student, fell asleep. Under autopilot, the twin engine airplane continued for a while before sticking a mountain located in the region of Bismarck. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the physical impairment of the pilot who fell asleep in flight due to fatigue. The following factors were reported:
- Autopilot ON,
- Altitude hold OFF.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-269 in Miles City: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1942 at 1151 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC21714
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Chicago – Minneapolis – Fargo – Bismarck – Miles City – Butte – Spokane – Seattle
MSN:
2129
YOM:
1939
Flight number:
NW001
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
13899
Captain / Total hours on type:
2273.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
437
Copilot / Total hours on type:
77
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the crew was unable to stop the aircraft within the landing distance available. The aircraft overrun, rolled for several yards and collided with construction equipment before coming to rest in flames. Both pilots and a passenger were killed while all other occupants were injured. Delivered to Northwest Airlines in June 1939, the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Upon the basis of all of the evidence available to the Board at this time, CAB find that the probable cause of the accident was the failure of the captain to complete the landing run in the time to avoid the obstruction at the end of the runway, for reasons undetermined, and his action in attempting to take off after striking the obstruction.
Final Report: