Summary
On June 02, 1997, a Cessna 402C (N1233P) was involved in an accident near Rawlins, WY. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain during the initial climb after a night takeoff. Factors include a dark night and rising terrain off the departure end of the runway.
On June 1, 1997, approximately 2240 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 402C, N1233P, impacted the terrain just after takeoff from Rawlins Municipal Airport, Rawlins, Wyoming. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, received serious injuries, and the aircraft, which was owned and operated by Casper Air Service, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 135 cargo flight was departing for Riverton, Wyoming, and was being operated in visual meteorological conditions on a dark night. The pilot had filed an IFR flight plan.
According to an FAA inspector who arrived at the scene the day after the accident, the aircraft impacted 200 foot high terrain about one and one-quarter mile off the end of runway 04, while making a VFR dark-night departure.
This accident is documented in NTSB report SEA97LA125. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N1233P.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain during the initial climb after a night takeoff. Factors include a dark night and rising terrain off the departure end of the runway.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On June 1, 1997, approximately 2240 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 402C, N1233P, impacted the terrain just after takeoff from Rawlins Municipal Airport, Rawlins, Wyoming. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, received serious injuries, and the aircraft, which was owned and operated by Casper Air Service, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 135 cargo flight was departing for Riverton, Wyoming, and was being operated in visual meteorological conditions on a dark night. The pilot had filed an IFR flight plan.
According to an FAA inspector who arrived at the scene the day after the accident, the aircraft impacted 200 foot high terrain about one and one-quarter mile off the end of runway 04, while making a VFR dark-night departure. Both propellers made a number of equally-spaced slash marks in the surface of the ground, and an inspection of the flight control system continuity showed no pre-impact anomalies. Both the flaps and the landing gear were in the up position. During the investigation, both engines and both propellers were subjected to teardown inspections. Except for impact damage, both engines and their fuel systems exhibited normal operational signatures throughout, with all components appearing well lubricated, and all magnetos producing a bright blue spark across a seven millimeter spark gap. The propeller blade visual inspections and the propeller hub teardown inspections revealed damage signatures consistent with ground impact in a flat pitch under significant power.
Records provided by the operator indicate that the pilot had flown out of this airport in the past, and that at the time of departure, the aircraft was approximately 600 pounds below maximum certificated gross weight. As of the date of the last investigative interview, the pilot has been unable to remember the sequence of events leading up to the crash.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA97LA125