CHI95LA089

Factual narrative

On February 14, 1995, at 1930 central standard time, a Cessna 310, N4092C, registered to Miller Flying Service, was substantially damaged during a hard landing on runway 35 at the Central Nebraska Regional Airport, Grand Island, Nebraska. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Sterling, Colorado, on February 14, 1995, at 1730 mountain standard time. The pilot stated he first flew the localizer/backcourse approach to runway 17. This resulted in a missed approach. The pilot stated that the airplane picked up a light ice built-up during the approach but it melted off immediately once he reached 5,000 feet as the cloud tops were at 4,800 feet. The pilot then elected to fly the ILS 35. He stated he stayed at 5,000 feet until established on the localizer, then descended to 4,000 feet prior to flying the localizer. The pilot continued to report that the approach was normal until he began his landing flare at which point the "...nose of the aircraft failed to raise and the rate of descent was still too fast." The pilot stated he added power and the nose of the airplane came up but it was too late and a hard landing resulted. The pilot stated there was 1/2" to 3/4" of ice on the leading edge of the both wings. In the Recommendation section of the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 completed by the pilot he stated he should have carried more power during the landing and he should have cycled the deice boots between the final approach fix and landing. The operator of the airplane holds a CFR 14 Part 135 On-Demand Air Taxi Certificate. This flight was conducted under that certificate; however, the pilot was not listed on the certificate. The pilot reported on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 that there were no passengers on the airplane. However, the IFR flight plan he filed indicated 4 people on board. During a subsequent conversation with a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector the pilot stated that there were in fact 3 passengers on board. The pilot received a weather briefing prior to the flight. During this briefing, he was informed of an Airmet for icing. THE PILOT FLEW A LOCALIZER/BACKCOURSE WHICH RESULTED IN A MISSED APPROACH. HE STATED HE PICKED UP A LIGHT BUILD-UP OF ICE DURING THE APPROACH BUT IT MELTED WHEN HE REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF 5,000 FEET PRIOR TO STARTING THE NEXT APPROACH. HE STATED THAT THE NEXT APPROACH WAS NORMAL UNTIL LANDING WHEN THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN HARD. THE AIRPLANE HAD 1/2' TO 3/4' OF ICE ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE WINGS. THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT ACTIVATE THE DEICE BOOTS DURING THE APPROACH AND THAT HE SHOULD HAVE CARRIED EXTRA SPEED DURING THE LANDING. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12