Cessna 401A N6249Q
14 September 1987 · Wichita Falls, Texas, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 14 September 1987 at about 19:00 local time, a Cessna 401A registered N6249Q, operated by Martinair, was involved in an accident near Wichita Falls, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.
The record
- Date
- at 19:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Wichita Falls, Texas, United States
- Nearest airport
- Wichita Falls (SPS)
- Coordinates
- 33.9709, -98.5107
- Aircraft
- Cessna 401A
- Registration
- N6249Q
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Martinair
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Dallas → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW87LA217
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.
Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE QUIT AFTER LANDING AT THE WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS AIRPORT. A WITNESS STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THE RIGHT WING EXPLODED DURING THE LAST ATTEMPTED ENGINE RESTART. DAMAGE WAS CONCENTRATED IN THE RIGHT WING BETWEEN THE ENGINE NACELLE AND THE MAIN FUEL TANK. THERE WAS NO FIRE ASSOCIATED WITH THE EXPLOSION. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE INDICATED THAT THE EXPLOSION ORIGINATED AT THE ENGINE AREA AND HAD EMANATED FROM WITHIN THE WING. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE HAD TAKEN OFF ON THE MAIN FUEL TANKS AND THEN SWITCHED TO THE AUX TANKS DURING THE FLIGHT. BEFORE LANDING, HE HAD SWITCHED BACK TO THE MAIN TANKS. ACCORDING TO THE FAA INSPECTOR AT THE SCENE, THE MAIN FUEL TANKS WERE FOUND 'OVERFILLED BEYOND THE FILLER OPENINGS.' THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK REQUIRES SUBSTANTIAL OPERATING TIME ON MAIN TANKS PRIOR TO SWITCHING TO AUX TANKS. THE OVERFLOW FROM ENGINES RETURNS TO THE MAIN TANKS ONLY.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 401 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Sep 1987 | Cessna 401 | Ames, Iowa, United States | Jet Air, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 6 Nov 1987 | Cessna 401A | Mobile, Alabama, United States | Montgomery Air Service | No injuries | - |
| 6 Nov 1986 | Cessna 401 | Henderson, Nevada, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 27 Jan 1986 | Cessna 401 | S. Lake Tahoe, California, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 9 Feb 1986 | Cessna 401B | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | Midwest Aviation Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 14 Mar 1986 | Cessna 401 | Silver City, New Mexico, United States | Flying A Flight Service, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Oct 1987 | Cessna 152 | New Caney, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 31 Oct 1987 | Cessna 150 | San Angelo, Texas, United States | David Sibley | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Mar 1987 | Cessna 182P | Refugio, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Nov 1987 | Piper PA-18-150 | Dallas, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Mar 1987 | Piper PA-23-250 | George West, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Mar 1987 | Cessna 172P | Roanoke, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |