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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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January 27, 2009 · Aerospatiale Alenia ATR 42-320 · N902FX

Lubbock, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 27, 2009
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Lubbock, TX
Aircraft
Aerospatiale Alenia ATR 42-320
Tail Number
N902FX
Operator
Empire Airlines
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN09MA142

The Safety Board’s full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/Publictn/A_Acc1.htm. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-11/02. On January 27, 2009, about 0437 central standard time, an Avions de Transport Régional Aerospatiale Alenia ATR 42 320, N902FX, operating as Empire Airlines flight 8284, was on an instrument approach when it crashed short of the runway at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, Lubbock, Texas. The captain sustained serious injuries, and the first officer sustained minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to Federal Express Corporation and operated by Empire Airlines, Inc., as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 supplemental cargo flight. The flight departed from Fort Worth Alliance Airport, Fort Worth, Texas, about 0313. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed.

NTSB Probable Cause

The flight crew's failure to monitor and maintain a minimum safe airspeed while executing an instrument approach in icing conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at low altitude. Contributing to the accident were 1) the flight crew's failure to follow published standard operating procedures in response to a flap anomaly, 2) the captain's decision to continue with the unstabilized approach, 3) the flight crew's poor crew resource management, and 4) fatigue due to the time of day in which the accident occurred and a cumulative sleep debt, which likely impaired the captain's performance.

Full Narrative

The Safety Board’s full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/Publictn/A_Acc1.htm. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-11/02. On January 27, 2009, about 0437 central standard time, an Avions de Transport Régional Aerospatiale Alenia ATR 42 320, N902FX, operating as Empire Airlines flight 8284, was on an instrument approach when it crashed short of the runway at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, Lubbock, Texas. The captain sustained serious injuries, and the first officer sustained minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to Federal Express Corporation and operated by Empire Airlines, Inc., as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 supplemental cargo flight. The flight departed from Fort Worth Alliance Airport, Fort Worth, Texas, about 0313. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time04:37 CST
Nearest AirportLubbock Preston Smith (0nm)
Runway17R
Runway Length11500 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftAerospatiale Alenia ATR 42-320
Tail NumberN902FX
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorEmpire Airlines
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsPratt And Whitney Canada · PW 121 · Turboprop · 1950 | Pratt And Whitney Canada · PW 121 · Turboprop · 1950
Seats+ 2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 52 · First Class · Serious
Crew 2Age 26 · First Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind350° @ 10 kt
Visibility2 sm
CeilingOvercast 500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point46 / 48
Altimeter30.21 inHg
Observation Time10:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data