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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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April 4, 1984 · Piper Aerostar 600 Aerostar 6 · N3645T

Pontiac, MI

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 4, 1984
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Pontiac, MI
Aircraft
Piper Aerostar 600 Aerostar 6
Tail Number
N3645T
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI84FA148

DURING AN ILS APCH, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREETOPS WHILE IT WAS SLIGHTLY LEFT OF THE APCH COURSE NEAR THE MIDDLE MARKER. THE PLT CONTINUED TO FLY THE ACFT TO THE RWY & THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 1000 FT BEYOND THE THRESHOLD. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT & SKIDDED TO A STOP BETWEEN THE RWY & A TAXIWAY. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE LEADING EDGES OF THE WINGS & THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR WERE DAMAGED DURING IMPACT WITH THE TREES. SCRAPE MARKS WERE FOUND ON THE TREAD OF THE RIGHT MAIN TIRE WHICH SHOWED THAT IT HAD SKIDDED ABOUT 90 DEG TO THE PLANE OF ROTATION AS IF IT HAD BEEN COCKED AT TOUCHDOWN. THE PLT STATED THAT SHE WAS CHASING THE NEEDLE DEFLECTION WHILE ON THE ILS APCH & WAS NOT PROPERLY OBSERVING THE ALTIMETER WHEN THE ACFT HIT THE TREES. THE DECISION HEIGHT FOR THE ILS APCH WAS 1180 FT MSL. THE ARPT ELEVATION WAS 980 FT MSL.

Full Narrative

DURING AN ILS APCH, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREETOPS WHILE IT WAS SLIGHTLY LEFT OF THE APCH COURSE NEAR THE MIDDLE MARKER. THE PLT CONTINUED TO FLY THE ACFT TO THE RWY & THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 1000 FT BEYOND THE THRESHOLD. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT & SKIDDED TO A STOP BETWEEN THE RWY & A TAXIWAY. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE LEADING EDGES OF THE WINGS & THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR WERE DAMAGED DURING IMPACT WITH THE TREES. SCRAPE MARKS WERE FOUND ON THE TREAD OF THE RIGHT MAIN TIRE WHICH SHOWED THAT IT HAD SKIDDED ABOUT 90 DEG TO THE PLANE OF ROTATION AS IF IT HAD BEEN COCKED AT TOUCHDOWN. THE PLT STATED THAT SHE WAS CHASING THE NEEDLE DEFLECTION WHILE ON THE ILS APCH & WAS NOT PROPERLY OBSERVING THE ALTIMETER WHEN THE ACFT HIT THE TREES. THE DECISION HEIGHT FOR THE ILS APCH WAS 1180 FT MSL. THE ARPT ELEVATION WAS 980 FT MSL.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:22 EST
Nearest AirportPontiac/Oakland (0nm N)
Runway9R
Runway Length6200 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper Aerostar 600 Aerostar 6
Tail NumberN3645T
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K1J5 · Reciprocating · 290
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 28 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind140° @ 10 kt
Ceiling100 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time12:22
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data