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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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February 9, 1982 · Cessna 402B · N5218J

Newport News, VA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 9, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Newport News, VA
Aircraft
Cessna 402B
Tail Number
N5218J
Operator
D G Hardman
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL82FID06

The pilot stated that during his first ILS approach, the localizer needle fluctuated to the left. He made corrective turns to the left. When he broke out of the clouds at the decision height (DH), he observed the runway to the right and made a missed approach. At that time, he assumed that he made an error due to a cockpit distraction when he turned on his landing light. He reported the same type of problem during his second ILS approach, except the fluctuations were larger. At the DH, both of his ILS localizer needles showed that he was right of course. He saw a row of lights to his left that he thought was the runway. After he turned left and descended, he realized they were street lights. During his climb for another approach, the right wing struck a tree. He encountered the same ILS problem on a third approach, but landed safely. A check of the ILS transmitters and both receivers revealed no malfunction or failure. The plane had an autopilot front/back switch, which was reportedly set on "FRONT".

Full Narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING HIS FIRST ILS APPROACH, THE LOCALIZER NEEDLE FLUCTUATED TO THE LEFT. HE MADE CORRECTIVE TURNS TO THE LEFT. WHEN HE BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS AT THE DECISION HEIGHT (DH), HE OBSERVED THE RUNWAY TO THE RIGHT AND MADE A MISSED APPROACH. AT THAT TIME, HE ASSUMED THAT HE MADE AN ERROR DUE TO A COCKPIT DISTRACTION WHEN HE TURNED ON HIS LANDING LIGHT. HE REPORTED THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM DURING HIS SECOND ILS APPROACH, EXCEPT THE FLUCTUATIONS WERE LARGER. AT THE DH, BOTH OF HIS ILS LOCALIZER NEEDLES SHOWED THAT HE WAS RIGHT OF COURSE. HE SAW A ROW OF LIGHTS TO HIS LEFT THAT HE THOUGHT WAS THE RUNWAY. AFTER HE TURNED LEFT AND DESCENDED, HE REALIZED THEY WERE STREET LIGHTS. DURING HIS CLIMB FOR ANOTHER APPROACH, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A TREE. HE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME ILS PROBLEM ON A THIRD APPROACH, BUT LANDED SAFELY. A CHECK OF THE ILS TRANSMITTERS AND BOTH RECEIVERS REVEALED NO MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE PLANE HAD AN AUTOPILOT FRONT/BACK SWITCH, WHICH WAS REPORTEDLY SET ON "FRONT".

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time04:00 EST
Nearest AirportNewport News (0nm N)
Runway7
Runway Length8003 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 402B
Tail NumberN5218J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorD G Hardman
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520E · Reciprocating · 3250
Seats10

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 33 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
WindCalm
Visibility1 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point12 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time02:17

Appendix: Source Data