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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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August 25, 1982 · Cessna 421C · N88572

Saratoga Spring, NY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 25, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Saratoga Spring, NY
Aircraft
Cessna 421C
Tail Number
N88572
Operator
Richmor Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC82DA209

The aircraft was on a flight to reposition it for an air taxi operation. The pilot-in-command (PIC) was in the right seat while the second-in-command (SIC) was flying in the left seat. During arrival to the Saratoga County Airport, the aircrew were cleared for the VOR-A approach. According to the PIC, when they arrived at the GILLA intersection and started to proceed outbound, thunderstorm activity was observed on the procedure turn (south) side of the radial. Therefore, they elected to make a course reversal on the north side. Due to moderate to heavy turbulence, the PIC was distracted and was not sure if he set in the correct inbound heading. After intercepting what they thought was the proper inbound radial, a descent was started. Just after breaking out of the clouds at 1800 to 1900ft, the aircraft collided with trees. A missed approach was made and the aircrew diverted to another airport where the nose gear collapsed during landing. After the accident, they were not sure whether the DME was on Albany or Cambridge.

Full Narrative

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A FLIGHT TO REPOSITION IT FOR AN AIR TAXI OPERATION. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) WAS IN THE RIGHT SEAT WHILE THE SECOND-IN-COMMAND (SIC) WAS FLYING IN THE LEFT SEAT. DURING ARRIVAL TO THE SARATOGA COUNTY AIRPORT, THE AIRCREW WERE CLEARED FOR THE VOR-A APPROACH. ACCORDING TO THE PIC, WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE GILLA INTERSECTION AND STARTED TO PROCEED OUTBOUND, THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WAS OBSERVED ON THE PROCEDURE TURN (SOUTH) SIDE OF THE RADIAL. THEREFORE, THEY ELECTED TO MAKE A COURSE REVERSAL ON THE NORTH SIDE. DUE TO MODERATE TO HEAVY TURBULENCE, THE PIC WAS DISTRACTED AND WAS NOT SURE IF HE SET IN THE CORRECT INBOUND HEADING. AFTER INTERCEPTING WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS THE PROPER INBOUND RADIAL, A DESCENT WAS STARTED. JUST AFTER BREAKING OUT OF THE CLOUDS AT 1800 TO 1900FT, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES. A MISSED APPROACH WAS MADE AND THE AIRCREW DIVERTED TO ANOTHER AIRPORT WHERE THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING LANDING. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THEY WERE NOT SURE WHETHER THE DME WAS ON ALBANY OR CAMBRIDGE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:20 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway14
Runway Length4000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 421C
Tail NumberN88572
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRichmor Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · GTSIO-520-L · Reciprocating · 375
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 33 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 9 kt
Visibility2 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point14 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time10:55

Appendix: Source Data