Swearingen SA226-T(B) N161RS
20 May 1990 · Coeur D'alene, Idaho, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 20 May 1990 at about 19:50 local time, a Swearingen SA226-T(B) registered N161RS, operated by Bertea Aviation Inc., was involved in an accident near Coeur D'alene, Idaho, United States. 5 people were on board. One person on the ground also died. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:50
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Coeur D'alene, Idaho, United States
- Nearest airport
- Coeur D'alene (COE)
- Coordinates
- 47.5898, -116.9091
- Aircraft
- Swearingen SA226-T(B)
- Registration
- N161RS
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Bertea Aviation Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Bonners Ferry
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA90FA080
People
Injuries not recorded.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured | On the ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
Probable cause
INADEQUATE COORDINATION BETWEEN THE PILOT AND THE GROUND LINEMAN. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: IMPAIRMENT OF THE GROUND LINEMAN FROM CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE ASSISTANCE OF A GROUND LINEMAN WAS OBTAINED TO CONNECT AN EXTERNAL POWER UNIT. AFTER THE ENGINES WERE STARTED, THE LINEMAN DISCONNECTED THE POWER UNIT. THE PILOT NOTED THE DISCONNECT AND COMPLETED THE CHECKLIST. WHEN HE LOOKED UP TO FIND THE LINEMAN, HE SAW AN INDIVIDUAL WALKING AWAY FROM HIS AIRPLANE AND ASSUMED THAT IT WAS THE LINEMAN THAT HAD BEEN ASSISTING HIM. THE PILOT RELEASED THE BRAKES AND STARTED FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE AIRPLANE. THE LINEMAN, HOWEVER, WAS STILL NEXT TO THE AIRPLANE AT THE EXTERNAL POWER RECEPTACLE, WHICH WAS LOCATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE NOSE IN FRONT OF THE PROPELLER. THE LINEMAN AND POWER UNIT WERE STRUCK BY THE RIGHT PROPELLER. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE LINEMAN'S BLOOD SHOWED IT HAD AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.037%.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Swearingen SA226 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jun 1988 | Swearingen SA226-TC | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Britt Airways, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 20 May 1986 | Swearingen SA226 | Hutchinson, Kansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Dec 1997 | Swearingen SA226-T | Byers, Colorado, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 May 1982 | Swearingen SA226-TC | Palm Springs, California, United States | Sunaire | Serious injuries | - |
| 19 Jan 1982 | Swearingen SA226-T(B) | Rockport, Texas, United States | Baker Marine Construction Corp | Fatal | 3 |
| 7 Dec 1982 | Swearingen SA226-T | San Francisco, California, United States | United Faith Foundation, Inc. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jan 1990 | Stanger AIRCOMMANDER 532 | Hansen, Idaho, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 31 Jan 1990 | Swearingen SA226TC | Coeur D'alene, Idaho, United States | Empire Airlines | No injuries | - |
| 5 Apr 1990 | Stinson 108-1 | Boise, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Apr 1990 | Truckee Meadows TIERRA II | Moscow, Idaho, United States | Benham, van S. | Fatal | 1 |
| 7 May 1990 | Piper PA-18-125 | Rogerson, Idaho, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Jun 1990 | Cessna TU206G | Elk City, Idaho, United States | Thomas, Harold E. | No injuries | - |