Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Honolulu, Hawaii
Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
http://registry.faa.gov/N7328F
National Transportation Safety Board - Aviation Accident Preliminary Report
Location: Obyan, MP
Accident Number: WPR18LA092
Date & Time: 02/19/2018, 1730 LCL
Registration: N7328F
Aircraft: CESSNA 172
Injuries: 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Aerial Observation - Sightseeing
On February 19, 2018, about 1730 Chamorro standard time, a Cessna 172N, N7328F, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport (PGSN), Obyan, Northern Mariana Islands. The commercial pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and empennage when it exited the runway surface and nosed over. The airplane was registered to Marianas Air Transfer Inc., and operated by Star Marianas Air, Inc. under the provisions of Title14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an aerial observation flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight departed from PGSN about 1722.
According to the operator, the pilot reported a rough running engine and a loss of power about five minutes after departure. The airplane was 3 miles east of the airport, and about 2,000 ft mean sea level (msl). He contacted tower controllers at PGSN with the intention to return to the airport and was instructed to enter the left downwind for runway 7. Meanwhile, the pilot pumped the throttle control which successfully restored the engine to normal power. While approaching the left downwind for runway 7, the engine began to run rough and power decreased to 1,000 rpm; pumping the throttle control had no effect on the engine power. Subsequently, the pilot contacted the tower controllers and declared an emergency and was given clearance to land on runway 25, an 8,700 ft long, dry, asphalt runway. Due to the traffic in the area, the pilot opted to perform a straight-in approach. According to tower controllers, the airplane was high as it crossed the threshold of runway 25 and had a high ground speed as it landed with approximately 1,000 ft of runway remaining. The airplane bounced several times, and according to the pilot, he then veered the airplane to the right, off the runway. The airplane collided with a ditch and nosed over.
The airplane came to rest inverted on the north side of the runway near the approach end of runway 7. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were crushed, and the wings were buckled.
The wreckage was relocated to a secure location for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Manufacturer: CESSNA
Registration: N7328F
Model/Series: 172 N
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: Star Marianas Air, Inc.
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Certificate of Authorization or Waiver (COA); Commuter Air Carrier (135); On-demand Air Taxi (135)
Operator Does Business As:
Operator Designator Code: 1SMJ
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PGSF, 10 ft msl
Observation Time: 0654 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 23°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 2900 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 13 knots, 70°
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.88 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Obyan, MP (GSN)
Destination: Obyan, MP (GSN)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 15.114722, 145.716667 (est)
Star Marianas Air, Inc.
For Immediate Release
At about 5:30 pm a Cessna 172N Skyhawk landed short of the approach end of runway 7 after it departed on a sightseeing flight with one passenger. The pilot reportedly experienced a loss of performance and decided to return to the airport but was unable to complete the landing on the runway. The aircraft landed short of the runway on the airport property. The pilot and passenger were reported to have minor injuries and were transported to CHCC for evaluation.
The cause of the performance loss is being researched by STAR Marianas Air mechanics. The flight was being conducted under FAA flight-seeing rules. NOTE: The flight seeing operation, the aircraft, and the pilot are NOT part of STAR Marianas Air certificated airline operations. No other information is available at this time.
Star Marianas Air, Inc.
Two people were hurt when a Star Marianas aircraft made an emergency landing at the Saipan airport Monday afternoon.
Variety gathered that the pilot and passenger of a Cessna 172N Skyhawk were transported to the Commonwealth Health Center for treatment.
As of 8:30 p.m., Monday, the Commonwealth Ports Authority and its Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting or ARFF unit were still preparing an official report.
The incident happened at 5:30 p.m. when the aircraft landed short of the approach end of runway 7. Witnesses said they saw the plane “flip over.”
At 8:06 p.m., Monday, Star Marianas administrative manager Alma G. Canlas released the following preliminary statement:
“A Cessna 172 aircraft landed short of the approach end of runway 7 after it departed on a sightseeing flight with one passenger. The pilot reportedly experienced a loss of performance and decided to return to the airport but was unable to complete the landing on the runway.
“The aircraft landed short of the runway on the airport property. The pilot and passenger were reported to have minor injuries and were transported to CHC for evaluation.
“The cause of the performance loss is being researched by STAR Marianas Air mechanics. The flight was being conducted under FAA flight-seeing rules.”
Star Marianas added that the flight-seeing operation, the aircraft and the pilot are not part of Star Marianas Air’s certified airline operations.
Star Marianas said no other information about the incident was available.
As of 8 p.m., Monday, the aircraft was still on the runway.
At 9:28 p.m., Monday, the fire department issued the following statement:
“On Monday, Feb. 19, 2018 at 5:34 p.m., the Department of Fire and EMS received a call from CPA ARFF reporting a plane crash inside the airport. At 5:36 p.m., Rescue-1 and Forestry-1 from the Susupe Fire Station, Engine-2 and Medic-2 from the Garapan Fire Station and Medic-4 from the Koblerville Fire Station were dispatched.
“At 5:58 p.m., DFEMS EMTs were met by ARFF inside the airport who had moved the patients from the crash site. The two individuals were a male and female. Our EMTs conducted an assessment of the two individuals before transporting.
“The first patient is a 25-year-old Caucasian male who was the pilot of the aircraft was complaining of left arm pain.
“The second patient is a 25-year-old Chinese female, who was the passenger, was complaining of facial pain. The patient sustained minor abrasions and redness to the face.
“Both patients were transported to CHC at 6:12 p.m. and arriving at 6:28 p.m.
“No information regarding the patient’s treatment at CHC and current condition will be released by DFEMS.”
Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.mvariety.com
