Aviation News

Cessna 414 crashes after hitting terrain 2 are killed

On February 9, 2007, about 1715 central standard time, a twin-engine Cessna 414 airplane, N69845, was destroyed when it collided with terrain while executing an instrument approach to the Edwards County Airport (ECU) near Rocksprings, Texas. The commercial pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to Drilling Structures International, Inc., of Rocksprings, Texas, and was being operated by the pilot. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight that originated from the David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport (DWH) near Houston, Texas, at 1544. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the business flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The wreckage of the airplane was examined at the site on February 10-11, 2007. All major components of the airplane were accounted for at the scene of the accident. The airplane's fuselage came to rest inverted on a heading of 015 degrees, approximately one-quarter mile east of the centerline for runway 14-32. The point of initial impact was a ground scar that exhibited blue paint transfer on the soil, consistent with the paint scheme of the airplane. The wreckage path continued on a measured heading of 255-degree for approximately 160-feet to where the main wreckage came to rest. The main wreckage consisted of the fuselage and empennage. The left engine and outboard section of the right wing were found near the main wreckage. The left wing was located under the fuselage. There was a post-impact fire.

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land, multi-engine land, and instrument airplane. He also held a flight instructor certificate for airplane single and multi-engine. His last first class Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical certificate was issued on May 5, 2006. At the time of his last medical examination the pilot reported having accumulated a total of 2,212 flight hours.

At 1725, the automated weather station at ECU reported winds from 020 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 14 knots, temperature 45 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 43 degrees Fahrenheit, visibility three-quarters of a mile in mist, ceiling 300 feet overcast, and an altimeter setting of 30.23 inches of Mercury.

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	Did You Know?
	Private pilots must be at least 17 years old and have a minimum of 40 hours of flight time The actual average is about 65 hours), including 20 hours of instruction and 10 hours solo. Pilots trained according to accelerated curricula defined in Part 141 of the Federal Aviation Regulations may be certified with a minimum of 35 hours. Private pilots may not fly for hire but may share equally with their passengers the direct expenses of a flight – specifically, fuel, oil, airport transient parking/landing fees, and aircraft rental charges.