Casualties unknown

1990-06-23: Cessna 340A (N2703U) — Felts Field Aviation — Priest River, ID

Priest River, ID, US

On June 23, 1990, a Cessna 340A (registration N2703U) operated by Felts Field Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Priest River, ID. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the approach for landing, which resulted in the airplane landing short of the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

During a landing approach, the pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed, causing the aircraft to land short of the runway. The nose gear collapsed and wings partially separated.

What happened

The incident occurred while the aircraft was conducting an approach for landing. According to the pilot's report, there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident. However, the pilot failed to maintain an adequate airspeed during this critical phase of flight.

As a result of the insufficient speed, the airplane landed short of the runway. Upon impact, the nose gear collapsed. The force of the landing caused the wings to partially separate at the root, and they dragged along the surface of the runway. The airplane slid down the length of the runway before finally coming to rest.

The investigation

The investigation focused on the mechanical condition of the aircraft and the pilot's account of the event. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident. This suggests the damage was a result of the impact forces rather than pre-existing mechanical issues.

Findings

The primary factor in this accident was the failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the approach for landing. This error led directly to the airplane landing short of the runway, which resulted in the collapse of the nose gear and partial separation of the wings at the root.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the approach for landing, which resulted in the airplane landing short of the runway.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X23556. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.