Sunday, June 16, 2019

Hard Landing: Beech 1900C, N575Q, accident occurred October 03, 2018 at Gambell Airport (PAGM), Alaska

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Anchorage, Alaska

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


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


https://registry.faa.gov/N575Q

Location: Gambell, AK
Accident Number: ANC19CA002
Date & Time: 10/03/2018, 1500 AKD
Registration: N575Q
Aircraft: Beech 1900
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Hard landing
Injuries: 9 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter - Scheduled

Analysis 

According to the flight crew, the instrument approach was flown above the glideslope in anticipation of mechanical turbulence. As the airplane descended through 500 ft, the pilot monitoring notified the pilot flying that the airplane was high on the approach. The airplane continued the approach above the glideslope, and the landing flare was conducted too high, which resulted in an excessive sink rate. The pilot flying attempted to arrest the sink rate but was unable to do so, and the airplane landed harder than expected, which resulted in a tail strike and substantial damage to the lower aft fuselage.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's unstabilized approach and improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

Findings

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

Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing-flare/touchdown
Miscellaneous/other
Hard landing
Attempted remediation/recovery

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport
Age: 37, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane; Helicopter
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 02/28/2018
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 09/07/2018
Flight Time:  4415 hours (Total, all aircraft), 220 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 75 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 9 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Co-Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport
Age: 60, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 08/22/2018
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 07/03/2018
Flight Time:  11081 hours (Total, all aircraft), 686 hours (Total, this make and model), 11052 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 337 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 105 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 6 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Beech
Registration: N575Q
Model/Series: 1900 C
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1991
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: UC-160
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 11
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 09/11/2018, Continuous Airworthiness
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 16600 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 2 Turbo Prop
Airframe Total Time: 47493.9 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Pratt & Whitney
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: PT6A-65B
Registered Owner: Icecap LLC Trustee
Rated Power: 1173 hp
Operator: Hageland Aviation
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Commuter Air Carrier (135)

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Instrument Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PAGM
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time: 2333 UTC
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling:  Broken / 900 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 21 knots / 28 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 80°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 29.2 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 9°C / 8°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Nome, AK (OME)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: Gambell, AK (GAM)
Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time:  AKD
Type of Airspace: Class E

Airport Information

Airport: Gambell (GAM)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt; Concrete
Airport Elevation: 29 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 16
IFR Approach: RNAV
Runway Length/Width: 4499 ft / 96 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 7 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 9 None
Latitude, Longitude: 63.772778, -171.734722 (est)

3 comments:

  1. a 60 year old F.O. sits there and lets the "Capt" fly an unstable approach and then crash the airplane??? I would sack them both

    ReplyDelete
  2. ^ I concur with your sentiments.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Agreed with the above ........ on top of that, 10nm viz and a 900ft bkn ceiling?

    ReplyDelete