ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 134842
Last updated: 19 June 2013
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| Date: | 21-JUN-2005 |
| Time: | 09:30 |
| Type: |  Cessna 320E |
| Operator: | Map Inc. |
| Registration: | N3438Q |
| C/n / msn: | 3,20E+40 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Missoula, MT -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | MSO |
| MSO |
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On June 21, 2005, approximately 0930 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 320E multiengine airplane, N3438Q, was destroyed following a loss of power and forced landing about one nautical mile west of the Missoula International Airport (MSO), Missoula, Montana. The pilot and sole passenger received serious injuries. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by Map Incorporated, of Missoula, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned cross-country flight, which was operated in accordance with 14 CFR Part 91, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident, with its destination being MSO after completing an aerial mapping mission in Idaho.
After recovering from serious injuries sustained in the accident the pilot submitted a written report to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), dated November 15, 2005. In the statement the pilot reported that prior to taking off the airplane checked out normal during the run up. The pilot stated that the takeoff was normal, but approximately 100 to 200 feet above ground level (AGL) the right engine quit. The pilot reported that he secured the right engine by pulling back the throttle, feathering the propeller, shutting off the mixture, and turning the fuel selector to OFF. The pilot further reported that at this time he was in a 5 degree bank to the left, then turned about 25 degrees to the left toward a field to avoid some trees. The pilot stated, "Due to the loss of the right engine, we had lost all the altitude we had gained on takeoff and ended up in the gullies at the west end of the airport. Once the engine was feathered the airplane was climbing slowly, but because of the height of the hill, we hit just short of the top of the hill. The hill rose up rather steep at the end of the field we had flown across and I couldn't get enough altitude to clear it. The top of the hill was quite a bit higher than the trees we had flown between. I kept full power on the engine just before touchdown." The pilot reported that he touched down in a wings level, nose high attitude to avoid it [the airplane] "digging in." The pilot further reported that after the airplane came to a stop, and just before he and his passenger exited the burning aircraft, he heard a loud explosion. In a telephone conversation with the IIC on June 15, 2006, the pilot stated that the gross takeoff weight of the aircraft was 5,382.6 pounds. According to Cessna Aircraft Company, maximum certificated gross takeoff weight for the Cessna 320-E airplane is 5,300 pounds.
Two Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic controllers who witnessed the accident, supplied individual statements to the NTSB IIC, both dated June 21, 2005. The first tower controller reported observing the accident aircraft near the 2,000-foot remaining marker of Runway 29, when the pilot radioed the tower of a right engine failure. The controller stated that the airplane appeared to be too high to land on the remaining runway available, but was cleared to land as an option. The controller reported observing the aircraft veer to the right, and then veer to the left crossing the extended centerline of Runway 29, about one-half mile and 50 feet AGL. The controller stated, "When it became clear that the airplane would not be able to maintain flight, and prior to impact, which occurred approximately 1 mile west of the airport, I advised them that help was on the way." The ground controller observed a puff of dust and the onset of black smoke." The second tower controller reported hearing the pilot say that he had lost his right engine while departing Runway 29. The controller stated that he then observed the airplane over the departure end of the runway at a low altitude, fly past the departure end in level flight, and then veer slightly to the right. The controller further stated that he observed the aircraft make a shallow left turn toward the sou
Sources:
NTSB id 20050623X00862
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