Narrative:AirNow Flight 59 departed Binghamton (BGM) about 08:20 for a flight to the company base at Bennington (KDDH) where it was to undergo maintenance. The pilot climbed to the cruising altitude of 9000 feet. At 08:40 the descent for Bennington was started. The pilot was cleared for a VOR runway 13 approach. This approach was aborted because of poor visibility conditions. (The METAR at 08:54 local time at Bennington included a report of light rain with 5-7 oktas clouds at 500 feet and 8 oktas overcast clouds at 1300 feet.) The airplane then rejoined the approach course, at 3,400 feet, inbound to the VOR. It subsequently passed over the VOR, on course, about 3,400 feet, but instead of descending, maintained that altitude until reaching the airport. At the airport, the airplane began a descent. The airplane continued to travel outbound from the airport, along the same course, until last radar contact. The Bandeirante flew into tree-covered, rising terrain at an elevation of approximately 2,100 feet.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot's misinterpretation of the airplane's position relative to the final approach fix, which resulted in the displacement of the descent profile by 6 nautical miles and the subsequent controlled flight into rising terrain. Contributing to the accident were the low clouds."
Accident investigation:
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Investigating agency: | NTSB |
Status: | Investigation completed |
Duration: | 2 years and 5 months | Accident number: | NYC06MA192 | Download report: | Summary report
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Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» pilot's fate unclear (Bennington Banner, 5-8-2006)
» Plane crash kills pilot after takeoff from Binghamton (AP, 6-8-2006)
» Plane down in Pownal
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 Binghamton Airport, NY to Bennington-William H. Morse State Airport, VT as the crow flies is 235 km (147 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.