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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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November 22, 1989 · Saab-Fairchild 340A · N363MA

Beaumont, TX

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
November 22, 1989
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (37 uninjured)
Location
Beaumont, TX
Aircraft
Saab-Fairchild 340A
Tail Number
N363MA
Operator
Metro Flight
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
FTW90IA030

Due to showers on the ILS runway, the crew elected to circle and land runway 30. MDA was 540 ft, adjusted VREF was 130 kts. At the 90 degree position to the runway, IAS was 131 kts. Altitude was 528 ft. During the descending base to final turn, the power went to flight idle. The airspeed went below adjusted VREF, and the radar altitude went down to 176 feet. The radar altitude was 56 feet, and the airspeed was 112 knots when the torque started to increase. Lowest radar altitude was 16 feet, and lowest airspeed was 100 knots. Airplane impacted tops of trees, approximately 2,200 feet from approach end of runway. PIC said that during turn from base to final, F/O lost sight of runway in a rainshower and a go-around was initiated. PIC of airplane, waiting at hold line for weather to improve before takeoff, saw the airplane disappear behind trees, during heavy rain. His F/O called it a wall of water.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADJUSTED VREF AND PROPER DESCENT RATES DURING THE APPROACH. THE PILOT DELAYED DECISION TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND AND THE COPILOT FAILED TO MONITOR THE POORLY FLOWN APPROACH. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE RAIN AND WIND SHEAR ENCOUNTERED DURING THE APPROACH AND THE CREW'S POOR EVALUATION OF THAT WEATHER.

Full Narrative

DUE TO SHOWERS ON THE ILS RUNWAY, THE CREW ELECTED TO CIRCLE AND LAND RWY 30. MDA WAS 540 FT, ADJUSTED VREF WAS 130 KTS. AT THE 90 DEGREE POSITION TO THE RWY, IAS WAS 131 KTS. ALTITUDE WAS 528 FT. DURING THE DESCENDING BASE TO FINAL TURN, THE POWER WENT TO FLIGHT IDLE. THE AIRSPEED WENT BELOW ADJUSTED VREF, AND THE RADAR ALTITUDE WENT DOWN TO 176 FEET. THE RADAR ALTITUDE WAS 56 FEET, AND THE AIRPSEED WAS 112 KNOTS WHEN THE TORQUE STARTED TO INCREASE. LOWEST RADAR ALTITUDE WAS 16 FEET, AND LOWEST AIRSPEED WAS 100 KNOTS. AIRPLANE IMPACTED TOPS OF TREES, APRX 2,200 FEET FROM APCH END OF RUNWAY. PIC SAID THAT DURING TURN FROM BASE TO FINAL, F/O LOST SIGHT OF RUNWAY IN A RAINSHOWER AND A GO-AROUND WAS INITIATED. PIC OF AIRPLANE, WAITING AT HOLD LINE FOR WX TO IMPROVE BEFORE TAKEOFF, SAW THE AIRPLANE DISAPPEAR BEHIND TREES, DURING HEAVY RAIN. HIS F/O CALLED IT A WALL OF WATER.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time10:24 CST
Nearest AirportBeaumont/Port Arthur (0nm N)
Runway30
Runway Length6751 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSaab-Fairchild 340A
Tail NumberN363MA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorMetro Flight
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsGe · CT7-5A · Turboprop · 1735
Seats37

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (37 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured37
Total37
Crew 1Age 35 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind310° @ 8 kt
Visibility4 sm
CeilingOvercast 3800 ft
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 66 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time15:39
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data