Wednesday, October 03, 2018

Controlled Flight into Terrain / Object: Cessna 340, N89AM; accident occurred October 01, 2018 at Keokuk Municipal Airport (KEOK), Lee County, Iowa

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Des Moines, Iowa

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms


Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf 


https://registry.faa.gov/N89AM


Location: Keokuk, IA
Accident Number: GAA19CA001
Date & Time: 10/01/2018, 0330 CDT
Registration: N89AM
Aircraft: Cessna 340
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
Injuries: 3 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Executive/Corporate 

Analysis 

The pilot reported that, while conducting an instrument approach at night in instrument meteorological conditions, about 50 ft above the decision altitude of 921 ft, he mistook building lights for runway lights. He inadvertently touched down the airplane in a soybean field about 3/4 mile short of the runway. He then increased engine power to full, and the airplane climbed "a couple hundred feet." Once he established visual contact with the runway lights, he landed the airplane on the runway without further incident.  

The pilot added that the lateral guidance from the localizer was "dead center" but that he could not recall the position of the vertical guidance needle. 

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. 

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The airport’s automated weather observation station reported that, about 5 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 030° at 3 knots, visibility was 1/2 statute mile with mist, overcast at 200 ft above ground level (agl), temperature 57°F, and dew point 57°F. The pilot reported that the airport ceiling was overcast at 300 ft agl with fog and rain and that visibility was 1 mile.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to correctly identify the runway environment during an instrument approach at night in instrument meteorological conditions because he mistook building lights for runway lights, which resulted in landing short of the runway. 

Findings

Aircraft
Descent/approach/glide path - Not attained/maintained (Cause)

Personnel issues
Perception - Pilot (Cause)
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)

Environmental issues
Drizzle/mist - Effect on personnel
Low visibility - Effect on personnel
Dark - Effect on operation
Object/animal/substance - Contributed to outcome

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing
Landing area undershoot

Landing-aborted after touchdown
Wrong surface or wrong airport

Landing
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 31, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):  Airplane Multi-engine; Airplane Single-engine; Instrument Airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 03/31/2018
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 10/08/2017
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 2700 hours (Total, all aircraft), 215 hours (Total, this make and model), 3624 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 45 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 15 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 5 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N89AM
Model/Series: 340 Undesignated
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1975
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 340-0545
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 6
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 6340 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 
Engines: 2 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: TIO-550
Registered Owner: Windy Point Aviation Llc
Rated Power: 310 hp
Operator: Windy Point Aviation Llc
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Instrument Conditions
Condition of Light: Night/Dark
Observation Facility, Elevation: KEOK, 671 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 0835 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 90°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility:  
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 200 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 30°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.15 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 14°C / 14°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: Moderate - Mist
Departure Point: Chicago, IL (ORD)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: Mount Pleasant, IA (MPZ)
Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time: 0145 CST
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Keokuk Muni (EOK)
Runway Surface Type: Concrete
Airport Elevation: 671 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 08
IFR Approach: RNAV
Runway Length/Width: 5500 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Unknown

Wreckage and Impact Information


Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 3 None
Latitude, Longitude: 40.460000, -91.452222 (est)

24 comments:

  1. Eagerly awaiting to hear details on this one.

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  2. In a C340 no less. This was not a student pilot.

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  3. Am I reading this correctly?

    Not sure where he/she could have landed, KEOK is surrounded by roads and very close to the Mississippi.

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  4. Explanations:

    1. They moved the airport one mile away from its original location.

    2. They stopped for coffee

    3. Someone REALLY had to go..

    4. The PAPI needs adjustment.

    5. The GPS needs adjustment

    6. The Sectional needs adjustment

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  5. Agreed- this should be interesting ............

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  6. If at first you don’t succeed...try, try again! Lol.

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  7. Stopped at a drive thru for a burger?

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  8. Okay rpkb ... What happened? Glad you are okay.

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  9. 3:30 am, 200 ft overcast and fog. I thought I saw the runway lights, turned out to be a barn. Luckily, we got back to the airport. It was the result of a chain of bad decision making on my part.

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  10. I would rather be LUCKY than GOOD ... Just saying.

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  11. So the plane never really landed when they thought they saw the runway lights OR did they touch down in a farm field, realize the mistake, hit full power and get back in the air? Gives a whole new meaning to the saying:"God is my co-pilot"!

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  12. I searched the "N" number on the internet and saw a pic. That is one sharp plane, just hope it wasn't damaged in the mishap.

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  13. rpkb why the hell wouldn't you've just followed your glide slope in on a 200' ceiling and FG even if you had the visibility for the approach, with a 5500' rwy in a CE-340, you would have stopped even with a contaminated rwy?!?! Even if you were just capable of the LNAV mins, with only REIL and MIRL the ceiling is 168' below your MDA with FG once again. Looking at google earth there isn't anything prior to 1 mile off the approach end of rwy 8, let alone a barn with light on it that would be pulsing like the RIELs would or the threshold lights looked like. Sounds like more then a chain of bad decision making! I hope the FAA finds you negligent and pulls your certificate(s)!

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  14. Mr. Know-it-all above seems to think they're part of the NTSB or something HAHAHAHA! Google maps shows the image was taken back in 2014. How do you know there wasn't something built between then and now?

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  15. rpkb ... Thanks for your honesty ... None of the rest of us were there and a few seem to forget that we are all human. Glad you are ok.

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  16. I am going to add the entire story here because I think everything is a learning experience, and I learned a lot.

    Mr. why the hell up there, its easy to Monday morning quarterback, I appreciate your suggestions, but luckily the FAA has a much clearer head, knows the rules and regulations and was objective. I loathe the day someone like you becomes an FAA inspector.

    Here is the entire story as candid as I can get. https://www.reddit.com/r/flying/comments/aqjdqf/709_v2/

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  17. Rpkb ... Again, thank you for the open honest sharing. No doubt you were tired/fatigued due to the delay and wee hours. I have seen that before but I have been lucky. Glad the ride went well and that everyone is ok ... Planes are replaceable.

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  18. Bravo Captain! Tremendous achievement under such conditions.

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  19. this person doesn't get any credit! they put their self into a shit situation because they were/are dumb, then people praise him because he managed to not kill everyone aboard as opposed to maybe telling him to make better decisions in the first place as a "professional" pilot and not give into outside pressures! DUMB!! i'm with the NTSB person, and hope the FAA reopens this and finds you negligent and pulls your certificate(s)!

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  20. All you hiding behind an anonymous tag... grow a pair and add your name and experience.

    I have the most to lose and I did.

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  21. " Anonymous Anonymous said...
    this person doesn't get any credit! they put their self into a shit situation because they were/are dumb, then people praise him because he managed to not kill everyone aboard as opposed to maybe telling him to make better decisions in the first place as a "professional" pilot and not give into outside pressures! DUMB!! i'm with the NTSB person, and hope the FAA reopens this and finds you negligent and pulls your certificate(s)!"

    Richard ... I guess you are the only one here immune to being human and incapable of mistakes ... You must be perfect. You have perfected the part of being a Richard.

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  22. I'd never trust this person with myself or anyone I know to be in an airplane with this person. That's the great thing about posting anonymously is that we don't need to prove ourselves, we didn't make the series of bad decisions to be on this site. This person seems reckless and pry continues to be reckless.

    Richard Smith, WA.

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