Cessna 320B N9811L
24 September 1992 · Lowell, Idaho, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 24 September 1992 at about 15:15 local time, a Cessna 320B registered N9811L, operated by Ehrstrom, William H., was involved in an accident near Lowell, Idaho, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lowell, Idaho, United States
- Coordinates
- 46.0798, -115.8596
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320B
- Registration
- N9811L
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Ehrstrom, William H.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Pocatello → Sandpoint
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA92LA214
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
RAM INDUCTION AIR STARVATION OF BOTH ENGINES AND INABILITY OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO CLEAR TREES DURING THE FORCED LANDING. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE LOW CEILINGS AND TREES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE ESTABLISHED IN CRUISE AT 14,000 FEET AND 21 INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE, BOTH ENGINES ABRUPTLY LOST POWER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING IN SNOW AT THE TIME AND THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS REPORTED AS APPROXIMATELY 0 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED TO 3000 FEET MSL AND DURING THE DESCENT ENGINE POWER WAS REGAINED. THE AIRCRAFT BROKE OUT OF AN UNDERCAST WITH APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET OF VERTICAL AND 1 SQUARE MILE OF LATERAL AIRSPACE IN WHICH TO MANEUVER IN, AND WITH UPSLOPING TERRAIN SURROUNDING THE AIRCRAFT THE PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT AN ABANDONED AIRSTRIP NEARBY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED SMALL TREES WHICH HAD GROWN UP IN THE LANDING AREA. POST CRASH INVESTIGATION REVEALED MOISTURE WITHIN BOTH AIR INDUCTION SYSTEMS AND DETERMINED THAT BOTH ALTERNATE AIR SYSTEMS WERE CAPABLE OF PROPER OPERATION. ADDITIONALLY, UNCONTAMINATED FUEL WAS FOUND WITHIN ALL FOUR FUEL TANKS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 320 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jun 1992 | Cessna 320D | Aztec, New Mexico, United States | Dabbs, Thurman C. | No injuries | - |
| 14 Sep 1992 | Cessna 320 | Darlington, South Carolina, United States | Branham, John R. | No injuries | - |
| 9 Aug 1992 | Cessna 320A | Novato, California, United States | Craig, Michael | No injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 1993 | Cessna 320 | Mesa, Arizona, United States | John T. Rooney | No injuries | - |
| 21 Apr 1993 | Cessna 320C | No. Little Rock, Arkansas, United States | Sky Trader Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jun 1991 | Cessna 320F | Washington, Indiana, United States | DR. John C. Roberts | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Apr 1992 | Cessna 182B | Dixie, Idaho, United States | Leonard, James A. and Linda K. | No injuries | - |
| 7 Dec 1992 | Bell 47G3-B2A | Montpelier, Idaho, United States | Wood, Brent V. | No injuries | - |
| 8 May 1992 | Aviat A-1 | Arco, Idaho, United States | Bjornson, Donald R. | No injuries | - |
| 12 Dec 1992 | Piper PA-46 | Twin Falls, Idaho, United States | David & Patricia Wilson | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 Dec 1992 | Maule M5-180C | Garden Valley, Idaho, United States | Kurt C. Larson | No injuries | - |
| 13 Dec 1992 | Bellanca 7GCBC | Arco, Idaho, United States | Gregory L. POE | No injuries | - |