ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 72607
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Friday 12 February 2010 |
| Time: | 13:55 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II |
| Owner/operator: | Mayes Aviation, LLC. |
| Registration: | N250TT |
| MSN: | 31T-7820050 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1978 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 9048 hours |
| Engine model: | P&W PT6A-28 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near of Forest City Municipal Airport (FXY), Forest City, IA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Executive |
| Departure airport: | St. Louis, MO (SUS) |
| Forest City, IA (FXY) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
A witness reported that the multi-engine turboprop airplane was on final approach to land when it suddenly veered to the left and entered a rapid descent. The witness stated that he heard the "whine of the engines" before the airplane impacted terrain about 1/2 mile south of the runway threshold. In the days preceding the accident flight, the airplane had been at a maintenance facility to resolve a vibration in the rudder system while the autopilot system was engaged. There were no anomalies reported with the autopilot system during a test flight completed immediately before the accident flight. However, anomalies with the rate gyro were noted by a mechanic who recommended replacing it, but the pilot departed on the accident flight without the recommended repair having been completed.
Further, examination of the autopilot annunciator panel indicated that the autopilot was likely not engaged at the time of impact, likely because the airplane was on a short final approach for landing. Accordingly, any existing autopilot faults would not have affected the flight as the autopilot system was likely not in use. There were no failures identified with the primary flight controls, engines, or propellers that would have prevented the pilot from maintaining control of the airplane manually. Toxicological testing revealed the presence of Zolpidem in the pilot's blood (Zolpidem, the trade name for Ambien, is used for short-term treatment of insomnia); however, the reported levels would likely not have resulted in any impairment.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during final approach.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
FAA register: 2. FAA: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?omni=Home-N-Number&nNumberTxt=250TT
Location
Images:
Photo: NTSB
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 12-Feb-2010 17:24 | RobertMB | Added |
| 12-Feb-2012 20:53 | Geno | Updated [Time, Operator, Phase, Source, Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:25 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 07-Aug-2017 13:29 | TB | Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Source] |
| 17-Sep-2017 21:59 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 17-Sep-2017 22:00 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 26-Nov-2017 15:23 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 24-Feb-2020 21:18 | Captain Adam | Updated [Other fatalities, Location, Source, Photo] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation