Cessna 401A accident near Springfield, Missouri, November 6, 1984
On November 6, 1984 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 401A, registered N6294Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Springfield, Missouri (Regional airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 1984 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Springfield, Missouri · Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 401A · all 401As on the register
- Registration
- N6294Q · no longer on the register · serial 401A0094
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A GEAR COLLAPSE FOLLOWING A MANUAL EXTENSION OF LANDING GEAR DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE THE ACFT WAS AFFORDED A TEMPORARY REPAIR BY CLAMPING A WRENCH TO THE LANDING GEAR STRUT TO 'STIFF-LEG' IT. THE GEAR COLLAPSED AGAIN DURING TAXI TO THE ACTIVE RUNWAY. THE WRENCH USED IN THE REPAIR HAD BROKE AND APPEARED TO HAVE HAD PREVIOUS DAMAGE ALSO.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 245 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 2,830 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,556 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,300 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mc Cauley Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: SGF Springfield MO
- Destination: MKC Kansas City MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from SGF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.