ASN Aircraft accident Volpar Turboliner II N9231 Memphis International Airport, TN (MEM)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Thursday 8 October 1987
Time:22:15
Type:Silhouette image of generic B18T model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Volpar Turboliner II
Operator:Connie Kalitta Services
Registration: N9231
MSN: 3829
First flight:
Total airframe hrs:18702
Engines: 2 Garrett TPE331-1-101
Crew:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:Memphis International Airport, TN (MEM) (   United States of America)
Phase: Takeoff (TOF)
Nature:Cargo
Departure airport:Memphis International Airport, TN (MEM/KMEM), United States of America
Destination airport:Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport, KY (CVG/KCVG), United States of America
Narrative:
The Volpar Turboliner II cargo plane took off from Memphis International Airport, TN (MEM), bound for Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport, KY (CVG).
After takeoff the pilot was told by the Tower controller that the tail stand, used to prevent aircraft from tipping on tail when loaded, was still attached to the aircraft. The pilot requested a teardrop turn back to the departure runway. The aircraft was returning to runway 36R when it stalled. Recovery was attempted but the aircraft impacted the ground prior to completion of level off. The aircraft was 379 lb over maximum takeoff weight and cg was at least 3 inch forward of the limit. No record of a load manifest was found.
The pilot in command had low PIC experience and received 2.7 documented flight hours with the operator's instructor pilot including his 135 competency check ride of 1.1 hours. The operator's initial training certification showed 5 hours of flight training.

The aircraft, a Volpar Turboliner II cargo plane, was a stretched turbine conversion of a Beechcraft SNB-5 Navigator (Redesignated TC-45J in 1962) that was operated by the US Navy.

Probable Cause:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
airspeed(vs)..not maintained..pilot in command
stall..inadvertent..pilot in command
Contributing Factors:
aircraft preflight..inadequate..pilot in command
aircraft weight and balance..not performed..pilot in command
lack of total experience in type of aircraft..pilot in command
inadequate initial training..company/operator management
diverted attention..pilot in command

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: NTSB
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 7 months
Accident number: ATL88FA007
Download report: Summary report

Classification:
Flightcrew un(der)qualified
Loss of control

Sources:
» NTSB


Photos

photo of Volpar-Turboliner-II-N9231
accident date: 08-10-1987
type: Volpar Turboliner II
registration: N9231
 

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Memphis International Airport, TN to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport, KY as the crow flies is 644 km (402 miles).

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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