Swearingen SA227-AC Metro III, N362AE: Accident occurred September 04, 2020 at San Antonio International Airport (KSAT), Texas

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity: 

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Antonio, Texas

Ameriflight
UAS Transervices Inc

https://registry.faa.gov/N362AE

Location: San Antonio, TX

Accident Number: CEN20LA440

Date & Time: September 4, 2020, 20:02 Local 

Registration: N362AE

Aircraft: Swearingen SA227

Injuries: 1 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air taxi & commuter - Non-scheduled

On September 4, 2020, about 2005 central daylight time, a Swearingen SA227-AC airplane, N362AE, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at the San Antonio International Airport (SAT), San Antonio, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 cargo flight.

According to the pilot, the airplane yawed right while on final approach to runway 13L, but he was able to regain control of the airplane with a right rudder input and continued with the landing approach. The airplane’s wings remained level, the nose aligned with the runway heading, and on a normal glidepath to the runway until the airplane crossed over the runway threshold. Shortly after the pilot began reducing engine power for a landing, the airplane began to roll right wing down and that the roll became more pronounced as the landing flare continued. The pilot stated that he was unable to regain control of the airplane before it landed hard on the right main landing gear with the airplane banked about 20° right wing down. The airplane departed off the right side of the runway where the nose landing gear collapsed. The lower fuselage and forward pressure bulkhead were substantially damaged during the hard landing.

The extent of the airplane damage sustained during the hard landing was not reported to the National Transportation Safety Board until February 10, 2021. The airplane was retained for additional examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Swearingen 

Registration: N362AE

Model/Series: SA227 AC 

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Amateur Built: No

Operator: 

Operating Certificate(s) Held: Commuter air carrier (135)

Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC

Condition of Light: Dusk

Observation Facility, Elevation: SAT,809 ft msl

Observation Time: 20:11 Local

Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles

Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C /21°C

Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 4400 ft AGL

Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 7 knots / , 40°

Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 7000 ft AGL

Visibility: 10 miles

Altimeter Setting: 30.1 inches Hg 

Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR

Departure Point: Del Rio, TX (DRT) 

Destination: San Antonio, TX

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries: 

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 1 None 

Latitude, Longitude: 29.533958,-98.469057 (est)