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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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December 9, 1988 · Aero Commander 720 · N120G

Alcoa, TN

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 9, 1988
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Alcoa, TN
Aircraft
Aero Commander 720
Tail Number
N120G
Operator
Commuter Craft
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL89FA054

After encountering icing conditions in flight and experiencing problems maintaining altitudes and headings, the pilot elected to divert from his planned destination of Dayton, OH to Knoxville, TN. While on final approach after descending 1300 ft below minimum procedure turn altitude followed by being told the aircraft was well above the glideslope, ATC instructed the pilot to maintain 3000 ft. Shortly thereafter, ATC reported the Mode C indicated 1900. The pilot responded with 'engine quit'. The aircraft crashed in a pasture about 1 mile from the airport. The investigation revealed that the aircraft was not equipped to operate in icing conditions. The evidence indicated that the flaps and landing gear were extended. Approximately 40 lbs of cocaine were found onboard the aircraft. The tox report for the pilot disclosed .05 mg/L benzoylecgonite (cocaine metabolite) in his blood. The pilot had received a weather briefing which included a freezing level at 7000 ft and filed a flight plan requesting a cruising altitude of 14000 ft.

Full Narrative

AFTER ENCOUNTERING ICING CONDITIONS IN FLIGHT AND EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS MAINTAINING ALTITUDES AND HEADINGS, THE PILOT ELECTED TO DIVERT FROM HIS PLANNED DESTINATION OF DAYTON, OH TO KNOXVILLE, TN. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH AFTER DESCENDING 1300 FT BELOW MINIMUM PROCEDURE TURN ALTITUDE FOLLOWED BY BEING TOLD THE AIRCRAFT WAS WELL ABOVE THE GLIDESLOPE, ATC INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ATC REPORTED THE MODE C INDICATED 1900. THE PILOT RESPONDED WITH 'ENGINE QUIT'. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A PASTURE ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED TO OPERATE IN ICING CONDITIONS. THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE FLAPS AND LANDING GEAR WERE EXTENDED. APPROXIMATELY 40 LBS OF COCAINE WERE FOUND ONBOARD THE AIRCRAFT. THE TOX REPORT FOR THE PILOT DISCLOSED .05 MG/L BENZOYLECGONITE (COCAINE METABOLITE) IN HIS BLOOD. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING WHICH INCLUDED A FREEZING LEVEL AT 7000 FT AND FILED A FLIGHT PLAN REQUESTING A CRUISING ALTITUDE OF 14000 FT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time06:00 EST
Nearest AirportMcghee Tyson (0nm N)
Runway5L
Runway Length8006 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAero Commander 720
Tail NumberN120G
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorCommuter Craft
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · GSO-480-B1A6 · Reciprocating · 340
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 47 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDawn
Wind30° @ 3 kt
Visibility1 sm
CeilingOvercast 400 ft
Temperature / Dew Point34 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time10:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data