Cessna Agrees To Pay for Carnahan Crash

A partial settlement has been reached in the Oct. 16, 2000 crash of the Cessna 335 that killed Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan and two others on board when the recip-twin crashed into the wooded hills south of St. Louis. Also on board where the governor’s son Randy, who was acting as pilot, and Chris Sifford, a campaign aide. The NTSB determined the probable cause was the pilot’s spatial disorientation which caused him to lose control of the airplane in night IMC and turbulence and with a failed primary attitude indicator. A judge approved a $1.6 million settlement by Cessna. The case will continue against vacuum pump provider Parker Hannifin and autopilot maker Sigma Tek.