Narrative:Flight 201 departed Moses Lake at 10:55; 80 minutes late due to poor weather conditions at Spokane.
The crew flew a runway 03 instrument approach procedure, requiring an altitude of 3500 feet to be maintained until passing the final approach fix. The crew descended below 3500 feet and impacted slightly rising terrain at an elevation of 2646 feet near the location of the final approach fix.
The aircraft became airborne again, went over a hilltop and came to rest 1380 feet further on. A fire started in the area of the right engine and spread throughout the entire fuselage.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "A premature descent to minimum descent altitude (MDA) based on the flight crew's use of an incorrect distance measuring equipment (DME) frequency and the flight crew's subsequent failure to remain at or above MDA. Contributing to the cause of the accident was the design of the DME mode selector which does not depict the frequency selected and the failure of the flight crew to identify the localizer DME facility."
Accident investigation:
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Investigating agency: | NTSB |
Status: | Investigation completed |
Duration: | 182 days (6 months) | Accident number: | NTSB/AAR-81-11 | Download report: | Final report
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Sources:
» NTSB Safety Recommendations A-81-39/42
» NTSB-AAR-81-11
Follow-up / safety actions
NTSB issued 10 Safety Recommendations
Issued: 30-MAR-1981 | To: FAA | A-81-39 |
PUBLISH A NOTICE TO AIRMAN PERTAINING TO THE LOCALIZER APPROACH TO RUNWAY 3 AT SPOKANE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, EMPHASIZING THE NEED TO USE THE IOLJ DISTANCE MEASURING EQUIPMENT ONCE ESTABLISHED ON THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE TO RUNWAY 3. (Closed - Unacceptable Action) |
Issued: 30-MAR-1981 | To: FAA | A-81-40 |
ADD A PRECAUTIONARY NOTE IN THE PLAN VIEW SECTION OF THE CHART FOR A LOCALIZER APPROACH TO RUNWAY 3 AT SPOKANE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, SUCH AS (Closed - Unacceptable Action) |
Issued: 30-MAR-1981 | To: FAA | A-81-41 |
REVIEW ALL APROACH PROCEDURES AND IDENTIFY THOSE AIRPORTS THAT HAVE A LOCALIZER OR INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM APPROACH WITH DISTANCE MEASURING EQUIPMENT FACILITIES AT TWO POINTS ALONG THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE, LEADING TO THE POSSIBILITY OF ERRONEOUS TUNING, AND ADD A PRECAUTIONARY NOTE ON THE PERTINENT APPROACH CHART. (Closed - Unacceptable Action) |
Issued: 30-MAR-1981 | To: FAA | A-81-42 |
ALERT PILOTS OF THE POTENTIAL FOR ERROR IN MAKING APROACHES AT AIRPORTS EQUIPPED WITH DISTANCE MEASURING EQUIPMENT AT TWO POINTS ALONG THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE THROUGH PUBLICATION OF APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONARY INFORMATION IN THE AIRMAN\'S INFORMATION MANUAL. (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
Issued: 28-JUL-1981 | To: FAA | A-81-74 |
REQUIRE IN FUTURE RADIO NAVIGATION INSTRUMENT INSTALLATIONS, THAT ALL FREQUENCIES BEING RECEIVED THROUGH NAVIGATIONAL RECEIVERS THAT ARE PROVIDING ESSENTIAL NAVIGATIONAL INFORMATION (DIRECTIONAL GUIDANCE OR DISTANCE) BE DISPLAYED SO THAT THE SOURCE OF THE NAVIGATIONAL SIGNAL CAN BE READILY DISCERNED BY THE PILOT. (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
Issued: 28-JUL-1981 | To: FAA | A-81-75 |
Establish for aircraft used in commercial operation the maximum cockpit noise levels which will permit adequate direct voice communication between flight crewmembers under all operating conditions. (Superseded by A-86-112-A-86-113) (Closed - Unacceptable Action/Superseded) |
Issued: 28-JUL-1981 | To: FAA | A-81-76 |
Require the installation and use of crew interphone systems in the cockpits of those aircraft in which noise levels reach or exceed the maximum level established for adequate direct voice communication between flight crewmembers under all operating conditions. (Superseded by A-86-112-A-86-113) (Closed - Unacceptable Action/Superseded) |
Issued: 18-AUG-1982 | To: FAA | A-82-91 |
ESTABLISH FORMAL HUMAN PERFORMANCE CRITERIA FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURES AND INSTRUMENT APPROACH CHARTS. (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
Issued: 18-AUG-1982 | To: FAA | A-82-92 |
ESTABLISH HUMAN PERFORMANCE CHECKLISTS OR GUIDELINES FOR USE BY PROCEDURES SPECIALISTS AND FLIGHT INSPECTIONS PILOTS WHEN EVALUATING NEW APPROACH PROCEDURES. (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
Issued: 18-AUG-1982 | To: FAA | A-82-93 |
ASSIGN PERSONNEL TRAINED IN HUMAN ENGINEERING AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE TO THE INTERAGENCY AIR CARTOGRAPHIC COMMITTEE AND THE INTRA-AGENCY COMMITTEE FOR FLIGHT INFORMATION. (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
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Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Moses Lake-Grant County Airport, WA to Spokane International Airport, WA as the crow flies is 141 km (88 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.