Springfield - Rolla

On March 3, 1988 at 10:05 PM, Springfield - Rolla experienced a crash involving Beechcraft E18, operated by Midwest Executive, with the event recorded near Vienna Missouri.

The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a plain, valley crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The pilot received a weather briefing before starting a night cargo operation in known icing conditions. Before the flight, a line serviceman noticed ice on the aircraft's wings and suggested its removal, but the pilot declined. Approximately 45 minutes after takeoff, the pilot reported to ARTCC that a de-ice boot had 'blown' and he was having difficulty controlling the aircraft. He said the boot was 'going back and forth' and that full right aileron was required to keep the wings level. Also, he reported a continuous loss of altitude and said that full right aileron would not keep the aircraft from turning to the left. Subsequently, the aircraft crashed on descending terrain while in a slightly nose down, left wing low attitude. Much of the aircraft (including much of the left wing) was demolished by impact and fire. Prop slash marks indicated the engines were providing power. Maintenance records had no information of replacement, repair or modification of the de-ice boots in the previous 10 years. The pilot's wife indicated he had previously been pressured to fly aircraft with discrepancies. Sigmets golf 3 and 4 warned of occasional severe mixed icing in clouds and precipitations. Both occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N45A, MSN BA-101, year of manufacture 1955.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 38.1867°, -91.9473°.