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NTSB Report
July 26, 2002 · Boeing 727-232 · N497FE
Tallahassee, FL
Overview
Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 26, 2002
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 serious injuries)
Location
Tallahassee, FL
Aircraft
Boeing 727-232
Tail Number
N497FE
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DCA02MA054
The Safety Board's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/publictn.htm. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-04/02. On July 26, 2002, at 0537 eastern daylight time, a FedEx Boeing 727, N497FE, crashed during landing at Tallahassee, Florida. The airplane was operating as Flight 1478 from Memphis, Tennessee, to Tallahassee. The airplane crashed short of the runway, and was subsequently destroyed by fire. All three crewmembers were seriously injured.
NTSB Probable Cause
The captain's and first officer's failure to establish and maintain a proper glidepath during the night visual approach to landing. Contributing to the accident was a combination of the captain's and first officer's fatigue, the captain's and first officer's failure to adhere to company flight procedures, the captain's and flight engineer's failure to monitor the approach, and the first officer's color vision deficiency.
Full Narrative
The Safety Board's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/publictn.htm. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-04/02. On July 26, 2002, at 0537 eastern daylight time, a FedEx Boeing 727, N497FE, crashed during landing at Tallahassee, Florida. The airplane was operating as Flight 1478 from Memphis, Tennessee, to Tallahassee. The airplane crashed short of the runway, and was subsequently destroyed by fire. All three crewmembers were seriously injured.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time05:37 EDT
Nearest AirportTallahassee Regional Airport (0nm)
Runway09
Runway Length8000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBoeing 727-232
Tail NumberN497FE
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 121
Engines3
Engine TypeTurbojet
Engine DetailsPratt & Whitney · JT8D-15 · Turbojet · 15500
People & Injuries
Injury Summary3 injuries (3 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious3
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 55 · First Class · Serious
Crew 2Age 44 · First Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind120° @ 5 kt
Visibility9 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.10 inHg
Observation Time09:53
Weather SourceWFAC