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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

January 3, 1992 · Beech 1900C · N55000

Gabriels, NY

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 3, 1992
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (2 fatalities, 2 serious injuries)
Location
Gabriels, NY
Aircraft
Beech 1900C
Tail Number
N55000
Operator
Commutair
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DCA92MA016

On IFR arrival, Flight 4821 was cleared to intersection 17 NE of airport at 6000', then for ILS runway 23 approach. Radar service was terminated 6.5 east of intersection. Radar data showed that flight crossed and then bracketed localizer. Flight intercepted glide slope from below about 7 miles outside of outer marker and thence deviated above glide slope. About 2 miles outside of marker, flight was at a full fly down deflection when it entered a descent varying from 1200 to 2000 feet per minute. Aircraft struck wooded mountain top 2.0 miles inside of outer marker (3.9 miles from runway) at elevation of 2280'. Minimum altitude at marker was 3600'. Glide slope elevation at point of impact was approximately 2900'. Evidence was found of inadequate electrical ground path between radome and fuselage which, when combined with existing weather conditions, may have produced electrostatic discharge (precipitation static). Although post-accident tests were not conclusive, the Safety Board believes that the glide slope indications might have been unreliable due to precipitation static interference.

NTSB Probable Cause

FAILURE OF THE CAPTAIN TO ESTABLISH A STABILIZED APPROACH, HIS INADEQUATE CROSS-CHECK OF INSTRUMENTS, HIS DESCENT BELOW SPECIFIED MINIMUM ALTITUDE AT THE FINAL APPROACH FIX, AND FAILURE OF THE COPILOT TO MONITOR THE APPROACH. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: WEATHER CONDITIONS AND POSSIBLE PRECIPITATION STATIC INTERFERENCE, CAUSED BY INADEQUATE GROUNDING BETWEEN THE RADOME AND FUSELAGE THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN UNRELIABLE GLIDE SLOPE INDICATIONS.

Full Narrative

ON IFR ARRIVAL, FLT 4821 WAS CLEARED TO INTERSECTION 17 NE OF AIRPORT AT 6000', THEN FOR ILS RUNWAY 23 APPROACH. RADAR SERVICE WAS TERMINATED 6.5 EAST OF INTERSECTION. RADAR DATA SHOWED THAT FLIGHT CROSSED & THEN BRACKETED LOCALIZER. FLIGHT INTERCEPTED GLIDE SLOPE FROM BELOW ABOUT 7 MI OUTSIDE OF OUTER MARKER & THENCE DEVIATED ABOVE GLIDE SLOPE. ABOUT 2 MILES OUTSIDE OF MARKER, FLIGHT WAS AT A FULL FLY DOWN DEFLECTION WHEN IT ENTERED A DESCENT VARYING FROM 1200 TO 2000 FPM. AIRCRAFT STRUCK WOODED MOUNTAIN TOP 2.0 MI INSIDE OF OUTER MARKER (3.9 MI FROM RWY) AT ELEVATION OF 2280'. MINIMUM ALTITUDE AT MARKER WAS 3600'. GLIDE SLOPE ELEVATION AT POINT OF IMPACT WAS APRX 2900'. EVIDENCE WAS FOUND OF INADEQUATE ELECTRICAL GROUND PATH BETWEEN RADOME & FUSELAGE WHICH, WHEN COMBINED WITH EXISTING WEATHER CONDITIONS, MAY HAVE PRODUCED ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (PRECIPITATION STATIC). ALTHOUGH POST-ACCIDENT TESTS WERE NOT CONCLUSIVE, THE SAFETY BOARD BELIEVES THAT THE GLIDE SLOPE INDICATIONS MIGHT HAVE BEEN UNRELIABLE DUE TO PRECIPITATION STATIC INTERFERENCE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time05:46 EST
Nearest AirportAdirondack (4nm NE)
Runway23
Runway Length6573 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech 1900C
Tail NumberN55000
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorCommutair
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PT6A-65B · Turboprop · 1100
Seats21

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (2 fatalities, 2 serious injuries)
Fatal2
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 30 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
WindCalm
Visibility2 sm
Ceiling500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point28 C / 25 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time10:05

Appendix: Source Data