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NTSB Report
December 18, 1992 · Cessna 550 · N6887Y
Billings, MT
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 18, 1992
Injury Outcomes
8 injuries (8 fatalities)
Location
Billings, MT
Aircraft
Cessna 550
Tail Number
N6887Y
Operator
Department of Energy Wapa
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA93GA041
DURING DESCENT INTO BILLINGS, THE CITATION WAS SEQUENCED BEHIND A BOEING 757, AND BOTH AIRPLANES WERE EVENTUALLY CLEARED FOR VISUAL APPROACHES. ABOUT 1-1/2 MI FROM THE RUNWAY THE CITATION WAS OBSERVED TO ROLL RAPIDLY TO THE INVERTED POSITION & DESCEND ALMOST VERTICALLY INTO THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO ATC TRANSCRIPTS AND THE AIRPLANES'S COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER, THE CREW OF THE CITATION HAD MAINTAINED VISUAL AWARENESS OF THE POSITION OF THE B-757 THROUGHOUT THE APPROACH. AT THE TIME OF THE UPSET, THE VERTICAL SEPARATION BETWEEN AIRPLANES WAS 600-1000 FT, AND THE HORIZONTAL SEPARATION WAS DECREASING BELOW 2.6 MI. ONE OF THE CITATION CAPTAIN'S LAST COMMENTS WAS 'ALMOST RAN OVER A SEVEN FIFTY SEVEN.' WINDS WERE 5 KTS.
NTSB Probable Cause
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW ESTABLISHED VORTEX AVOIDANCE PROCEDURES, AS PUBLISHED IN THE AIRMAN'S INFORMATION MANUAL, TO PROVIDE HIS OWN WAKE TURBULENCE SEPARATION.
Full Narrative
DURING DESCENT INTO BILLINGS, THE CITATION WAS SEQUENCED BEHIND A BOEING 757, AND BOTH AIRPLANES WERE EVENTUALLY CLEARED FOR VISUAL APPROACHES. ABOUT 1-1/2 MI FROM THE RUNWAY THE CITATION WAS OBSERVED TO ROLL RAPIDLY TO THE INVERTED POSITION & DESCEND ALMOST VERTICALLY INTO THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO ATC TRANSCRIPTS AND THE AIRPLANES'S COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER, THE CREW OF THE CITATION HAD MAINTAINED VISUAL AWARENESS OF THE POSITION OF THE B-757 THROUGHOUT THE APPROACH. AT THE TIME OF THE UPSET, THE VERTICAL SEPARATION BETWEEN AIRPLANES WAS 600-1000 FT, AND THE HORIZONTAL SEPARATION WAS DECREASING BELOW 2.6 MI. ONE OF THE CITATION CAPTAIN'S LAST COMMENTS WAS 'ALMOST RAN OVER A SEVEN FIFTY SEVEN.' WINDS WERE 5 KTS.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:45 MST
Nearest AirportBillings Logan Intl. (1nm E)
Runway27R
Runway Length10528 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd
Aircraft
AircraftCessna 550
Tail NumberN6887Y
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorDepartment of Energy Wapa
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · JT15D-4 · Turbofan · 2500
Seats10
People & Injuries
Injury Summary8 injuries (8 fatalities)
Fatal8
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total8
Crew 1Age 39 · First Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind350° @ 5 kt
Visibility40 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point1 C / 5 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time23:53
Weather SourceWFAC