Narrative:
Shortly after departing Flint, the airplane's left engine started to surge. The airplane also began experiencing intermittent electrical surges causing the instrument panel lights, cabin lights, and radios to go OFF and ON. The pilot stated that he decided to divert to Detroit and land because the airport had emergency equipment available. The pilot stated that he did not advise ATC of any problem while diverting because he believed that he could land without incident. The pilot did not attempt to secure the left engine before landing because it was still developing some usable power. The airplane landed on the runway gear up.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear. A factor in the accident was the pilot's diverted attention."
Runway mishap
accident date: 15-12-1995
type: Swearingen SA226-AT Merlin IV
registration: N31AT
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Friday 15 December 1995 |
| Time: | 04:23 |
| Type: |  Swearingen SA226-AT Merlin IV |
| Operator: | Air Transport Inc. |
| Registration: | N31AT |
| MSN: | AT-057 |
| First flight: | 1977 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 6965 |
| Engines: | 2 Garrett TPE331-3U-330G |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Detroit-Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, MI (DTW) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | Flint-Bishop Airport, MI (FNT/KFNT), United States of America |
| Louisville International Airport, KY (SDF/KSDF), United States of America |
Shortly after departing Flint, the airplane's left engine started to surge. The airplane also began experiencing intermittent electrical surges causing the instrument panel lights, cabin lights, and radios to go OFF and ON. The pilot stated that he decided to divert to Detroit and land because the airport had emergency equipment available. The pilot stated that he did not advise ATC of any problem while diverting because he believed that he could land without incident. The pilot did not attempt to secure the left engine before landing because it was still developing some usable power. The airplane landed on the runway gear up.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear. A factor in the accident was the pilot's diverted attention."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Gear-up landingRunway mishap
Sources:
» NTSB id CHI96LA053Photos
accident date: 15-12-1995
type: Swearingen SA226-AT Merlin IV
registration: N31AT
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 Flint-Bishop Airport, MI to Louisville International Airport, KY as the crow flies is 555 km (347 miles).
Distance from Flint-Bishop Airport, MI to Louisville International Airport, KY as the crow flies is 555 km (347 miles).
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.
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