Pine Bluff - Laredo

Radar data showed the airplane tracking north of the planned route. It made several heading changes, and descended to 500 feet msl. The pilot advised ATC that he was landing at Shreveport, and was assigned a transponder code. No further transmissions were received by ATC. The airplane impacted transmission lines, poles, and trees approx 19 miles northwest of the airport. Examination of the propellers revealed that the right spinner dome marks equated to 74°; the operating range is 17-35°. The three blades of the left propeller showed only leading edge damage at the tips. Examination of the right engine revealed the following: carbon buildup in the exhaust and intake manifolds, exhaust valves pitted and scored, valve seats worn and pitted, spark plugs worn, compression below 60 on 4 cylinders, and a separated magneto block with pitting and fretting. Time since last annual inspection by operator maintenance personnel was 78 hrs. The left engine and accessories were extensively damaged by fire. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Flight / Schedule

Pine Bluff - Laredo

Registration

N492DM

MSN

AF-804

Year of Manufacture

1954

Date

April 6, 1993 at 01:50 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Cargo

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Crash Location

Mooringsport Louisiana

Region

North America • United States of America

Coordinates

32.6876°, -93.9610°

Crash Cause

Technical failure

Narrative Report

On April 6, 1993 at 01:50 AM, Pine Bluff - Laredo experienced a crash involving Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor, operated by Eagle Airways - USA, with the event recorded near Mooringsport Louisiana.

The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

1 people were known to be on board, 1 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: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. Radar data showed the airplane tracking north of the planned route. It made several heading changes, and descended to 500 feet msl. The pilot advised ATC that he was landing at Shreveport, and was assigned a transponder code. No further transmissions were received by ATC. The airplane impacted transmission lines, poles, and trees approx 19 miles northwest of the airport. Examination of the propellers revealed that the right spinner dome marks equated to 74°; the operating range is 17-35°. The three blades of the left propeller showed only leading edge damage at the tips. Examination of the right engine revealed the following: carbon buildup in the exhaust and intake manifolds, exhaust valves pitted and scored, valve seats worn and pitted, spark plugs worn, compression below 60 on 4 cylinders, and a separated magneto block with pitting and fretting. Time since last annual inspection by operator maintenance personnel was 78 hrs. The left engine and accessories were extensively damaged by fire. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N492DM, MSN AF-804, year of manufacture 1954.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 32.6876°, -93.9610°.

Fatalities

Total

1

Crew

1

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

Radar data showed the airplane tracking north of the planned route. It made several heading changes, and descended to 500 feet msl. The pilot advised ATC that he was landing at Shreveport, and was assigned a transponder code. No further transmissions were received by ATC. The airplane impacted transmission lines, poles, and trees approx 19 miles northwest of the airport. Examination of the propellers revealed that the right spinner dome marks equated to 74°; the operating range is 17-35°. The three blades of the left propeller showed only leading edge damage at the tips. Examination of the right engine revealed the following: carbon buildup in the exhaust and intake manifolds, exhaust valves pitted and scored, valve seats worn and pitted, spark plugs worn, compression below 60 on 4 cylinders, and a separated magneto block with pitting and fretting. Time since last annual inspection by operator maintenance personnel was 78 hrs. The left engine and accessories were extensively damaged by fire. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Cause: Technical failure

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

1

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 1

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Pine Bluff - Laredo

Flight Type

Cargo

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Registration

N492DM

MSN

AF-804

Year of Manufacture

1954