Fairchild Swearingen SA227-AT accident near Spokane, WA
On November 29, 2003, a Fairchild Swearingen SA227-AT (airplane) was involved in an accident near Spokane, WA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 29, 2003
- Place
- Spokane, WA
- Aircraft
- Fairchild Swearingen SA227-AT · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 47.711°N, 117.261°W
- NTSB ID
- 20031205X02005
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 29, 2003, at 0801:26 Pacific standard time, a Fairchild-Swearingen SA227-AT, N439AF, registered to Ameriflight, Inc., being operated as Ameriflight flight 1996, and being flown by an airline transport rated pilot, was destroyed during collision with trees and terrain while on final approach to Felts Field, Spokane, Washington. The pilot was fatally injured and a post crash fire consumed much of the aircraft. Instrument meteorological conditions existed at the crash site and an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan was in effect at the time. The flight, a weekly (Saturday only) cargo trip, departed Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington, at 0707 PST, and was operated under 14 CFR 135. Upon its arrival in the Spokane area, the aircraft was cleared for the ILS/DME runway 21R approach to Felts Field (SFF) and a radar track showed it turning right to intercept the localizer and track inbound. Approximately 0801 the local controller at Felts Field issued a low altitude alert to the pilot who immediately responded acknowledging a descent through 2,800 feet above mean sea level (MSL). The last radar target showed the aircraft tracking 217 degrees magnetic at 131 knots and with a transponder altitude of 2,400 feet. At that time the target was approximately 250 feet east of a north/south tree line. There were no eyewitnesses to the accident. A number of individuals who lived near or were in the vicinity of the accident site reported hearing the aircraft. One individual reported that "...the engine seemed to run smoothly, but it sounded way too low...." An
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain proper glidepath alignment during an ILS approach in poor weather resulting in collision with trees and terrain. Contributing factors were the unreliable status of the primary (NAV 1) ILS receiver (leaving the pilot with only the secondary (NAV 2) ILS receiver), the low ceilings and trees.
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Browse: Washington
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
