What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4) Approximately 4 to 5 miles from the destination airport, and while conducting an ILS approach at night to runway 04, the pilot made visual contact with the airport, the runway lights, and the visual approach slope indicator. The approach was continued visually. Over the approach lights the airplane encountered heavy rain. The copilot observed the airplane was low on both the VASI and the airplane's HSI. The pilot applied power and initiated a go-around. The airplane landed hard on a Grass bank, about 13 feet short of runway 4. Weather 9 minutes before the accident included winds from 310 degrees at 6 knots, with a visibility of 8 miles, light rain and mist. Weather 4 minutes after accident included winds from 310 degrees at 8 knots, with a visibility of 2 1/2 miles and heavy rain. The approach end of the runway was about 34 feet lower than the highest point of the runway, about 4,500 feet from the approach end. The aeronautical information manual stated either upsloping runways, or rain on the windscreens, could create illusions that an aircraft was higher than actual altitude. (-23) see narrative #NYC97LA165
As the FAA filed it
(.4) APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 5 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, AND WHILE CONDUCTING AN ILS APPROACH AT NIGHT TO RUNWAY 04, THE PILOT MADE VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE AIRPORT, THE RUNWAY LIGHTS, AND THE VISUAL APPROACH SLOPE INDICATOR. THE APPROACH WAS CONTINUED VISUALLY. OVER THE APPROACH LIGHTS THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED HEAVY RAIN. THE COPILOT OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE WAS LOW ON BOTH THE VASI AND THE AIRPLANE'S HSI. THE PILOT APPLIED POWER AND INITIATED A GO-AROUND. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD ON A GRASS BANK, ABOUT 13 FEET SHORT OF RUNWAY 4. WEATHER 9 MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT INCLUDED WINDS FROM 310 DEGREES AT 6 KNOTS, WITH A VISIBILITY OF 8 MILES, LIGHT RAIN AND MIST. WEATHER 4 MINUTES AFTER ACCIDENT INCLUDED WINDS FROM 310 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS, WITH A VISIBILITY OF 2 1/2 MILES AND HEAVY RAIN. THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY WAS ABOUT 34 FEET LOWER THAN THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE RUNWAY, ABOUT 4,500 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END. THE AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION MANUAL STATED EITHER UPSLOPING RUNWAYS, OR RAIN ON THE WINDSCREENS, COULD CREATE ILLUSIONS THAT AN AIRCRAFT WAS HIGHER THAN ACTUAL ALTITUDE. (-23) SEE NARRATIVE #NYC97LA165
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.