1992 — June 19, Adventure Airlines Crash, Grand Canyon sightseeing, ~Meadview, AZ–10

— 10  B3A (Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Arc. “Crash of a Cessna 402 in Meadview: 10 killed.”

— 10  Los Angeles Times. “10 Killed in Plane Crash after Tour of Grand Canyon…” 6-20-1992.

— 10  NTSB. “NTSB Identification: DCA92MA040.” Approved 11-3-1993.

 

Narrative Information

 

LA Times: “A small plane returning from a sightseeing flight to the Grand Canyon crashed in a remote area near the Arizona-Nevada border on Friday, killing the pilot and nine passengers, authorities said. A spokeswoman for the Mohave County sheriff’s office in Kingman, Ariz., said the twin-engine Cessna 402 from Adventure Airlines in Las Vegas crashed near an airstrip on the Hualapai Indian Reservation on the south shore of Lake Mead, 15 miles east of the small community of Meadview, Ariz. ‘The wings and fuselage were pretty much intact and the pilot and passengers were still strapped in their seats,’ said sheriff’s Deputy Ron Panner, who was among the first people to arrive at the crash site. ‘It looked like they all died on impact.’

 

“Officials in Las Vegas, where the flight originated, said the crash occurred about 2:30 p.m., shortly after the plane took off from Grand Canyon West Airport in Meadview.”

 

NTSB: “Nonscheduled 14 CFR

Accident occurred Friday, June 19, 1992 in MEADVIEW, AZ

Probable Cause Approval Date: 11/03/1993

Aircraft: CESSNA 402C, registration: N2715X

Injuries: 10 Fatal.

 

Pilot began takeoff on a 5200-ft dirt runway (upslope to the south, elevation 4775 ft) with wind from the south at 18-20 knots, density alt. about 7250 ft. Witnesses observed the aircraft taking off, with the landing gear retracting as it passed their position. Soon thereafter, the pilot transmitted he had ‘a problem.’ Aircraft was then seen about 200-300 ft agl in right turn, which progressed into a dive. Aircraft impacted in a flat attitude ½ mile south of runway 17. Psgr video tapes revealed props went out of sync about 6 seconds after takeoff. About 15 seconds later, right prop slowed until blades could be seen turning. Video showed one engine fuel flow at about 90 gph, other engine at min setting (about 3 psi), 5 degree increase in pitch attitude. Examination reveled right engine driven fuel pump drive coupling was scored and only partially engaged….

 

“The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

 

Failure of the pilot to follow the emergency procedure (engine failure after takeoff) and his failure to maintain minimum control speed (VMC), which resulted in a loss of aircraft control. Factors related to the accident were failure (disengagement) of the right engine fuel pump drive coupling, high density altitude, and the lack of company training concerning aircraft performance in conditions of high density altitude and heavy gross weight.”

Sources

 

B3A (Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives). “Crash of a Cessna 402 in Meadview: 10 killed.” Accessed 4-9-2016 at: http://www.baaa-acro.com/1992/archives/crash-of-a-cessna-402-in-meadview-10-killed/

 

Los Angeles Times (Ron Russell and Ted Rohrlich). “10 Killed in Plane Crash after Tour of Grand Canyon: Disaster: The Adventure Airlines flight back to Las Vegas went down south of the Nevada-Arizona border.” 6-20-1992. Accessed 4-9-2016 at: http://articles.latimes.com/1992-06-20/news/mn-446_1_grand-canyon-tour

 

National Transportation Safety Board. “NTSB Identification: DCA92MA040.” Washington, DC: NTSG, approved 11-3-1993. Accessed 4-9-2016: http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001211X14831&key=1