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February 19, 1987 · Piper PA-32RT-300 PA-32RT-30 · N31590

Nashville, TN

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 19, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Nashville, TN
Aircraft
Piper PA-32RT-300 PA-32RT-30
Tail Number
N31590
Operator
Transportation America
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ATL87LA073

THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE CONDUCTED AN ILS APPCH BEHIND MIXED JET AND TURBOPROP TRAFFIC; THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED AN 'EXTREME DOWNDRAFT' WHILE ON APPCH AND THE ACFT VERTICAL SPEED WENT FROM ABOUT 500 FPM TO ABOUT 1200 FPM. HE ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER BY ADDING FULL POWER, INCREASING PITCH, AND REDUCING THE FLAP SETTING FROM 25 DEGREES TO 10, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SUFFICIENTLY ARREST THE SINK RATE. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK TWO APPCH LIGHTS AND A LOCALIZER PLATFORM ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE RWY. A BEECH 99 LANDING ABOUT 2 MINUTES AHEAD OF THE ACFT REPORTED NO PROBLEM ON THE APPCH. THE FREEZING LEVEL AT NASHVILLE WAS REPORTED TO 900 FT MSL AT 1750 CST. THE PLT REPORTED THAT ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF THE 30 MINUTE FLT HAD BEEN IN THE CLOUDS. AN AIR CARRIER FLT THAT LANDED ABOUT 10 MINUTES AHEAD REPORTED EXPERIENCING 'LOTS OF RIME ICE'. THE PA-32RT-300 POH STATES THAT THE FLAPS SHOULD BE SLOWLY RETRACTED ONLY WHEN A POSITIVE CLIMB RATE IS ESTABLISHED WHEN INITIATING A GO-AROUND FROM A LDG APPCH.

Full Narrative

THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE CONDUCTED AN ILS APPCH BEHIND MIXED JET AND TURBOPROP TRAFFIC; THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED AN 'EXTREME DOWNDRAFT' WHILE ON APPCH AND THE ACFT VERTICAL SPEED WENT FROM ABOUT 500 FPM TO ABOUT 1200 FPM. HE ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER BY ADDING FULL POWER, INCREASING PITCH, AND REDUCING THE FLAP SETTING FROM 25 DEGREES TO 10, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SUFFICIENTLY ARREST THE SINK RATE. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK TWO APPCH LIGHTS AND A LOCALIZER PLATFORM ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE RWY. A BEECH 99 LANDING ABOUT 2 MINUTES AHEAD OF THE ACFT REPORTED NO PROBLEM ON THE APPCH. THE FREEZING LEVEL AT NASHVILLE WAS REPORTED TO 900 FT MSL AT 1750 CST. THE PLT REPORTED THAT ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF THE 30 MINUTE FLT HAD BEEN IN THE CLOUDS. AN AIR CARRIER FLT THAT LANDED ABOUT 10 MINUTES AHEAD REPORTED EXPERIENCING 'LOTS OF RIME ICE'. THE PA-32RT-300 POH STATES THAT THE FLAPS SHOULD BE SLOWLY RETRACTED ONLY WHEN A POSITIVE CLIMB RATE IS ESTABLISHED WHEN INITIATING A GO-AROUND FROM A LDG APPCH.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:15 CST
Nearest AirportNashville Metropolitan (0nm N)
Runway2L
Runway Length7702 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32RT-300 PA-32RT-30
Tail NumberN31590
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorTransportation America
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K1G5D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats7

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 34 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDusk
Wind320° @ 5 kt
Visibility1 sm
CeilingOvercast 300 ft
Temperature / Dew Point34 C / 34 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time01:19
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data