# NTSB ATL89FA189: Convair 640 (340D), N5509K, Atlanta, GA, August 3, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 3, 1989, 09:36 local (13:36 UTC)
- Place: Atlanta, GA
- Location: 33.6367° N, 84.4279° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at HARTSFIELD/JACKSON ATLANTA INTL (ATL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6367&lon=-84.4279&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7909
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89FA189
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7909/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA189

## Probable cause

PILOT IN COMMAND FAILED TO PLACE THE AIRPLANE AT A POSITION FROM WHICH A STABILIZED APPROACH TO LANDING COULD BE MADE. HIS PROCEDURE FOR THE RECOVERY FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING WAS INADEQUATE AND THE NOSE GEAR STRUCTURAL STRENGTH WAS EXCEEDED DURING FOLLOWING TOUCHDOWNS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - altitude - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - touchdown - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING THE DESCENT TO THE OUTER MARKER FOR A VISUAL APPROACH WITH AN ILS BACKUP TO RUNWAY 26R, THE PILOT IN COMMAND DID NOT DESCEND TO A POINT WHERE A STABILIZED APPROACH TO LANDING COULD BE COMPLETED. THE AIRPLANE REPORTEDLY CROSSED THE OUTER MARKER WITH A FULL SCALE FLY DOWN DEFLECTION ON THE ILS GLIDE SLOPE INDICATOR. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ATTAINED THE GLIDE SLOPE FROM ABOVE WHEN HE WAS ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE THRESHOLD. THE AIRPLANE WAS FLARED FOR LANDING AT AN EXCESSIVE ALTITUDE AND TOUCHDOWN WAS NOT MADE UNTIL AT LEAST 1,500 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN HARD, BOUNCED AND ON THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN MADE RUNWAY CONTACT WITH ALL THREE GEARS OR POSSIBLY SLIGHTLY NOSE GEAR FIRST. THE NOSE GEAR DRAG LINK FRACTURED, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP ON ITS MAIN GEAR AND THE FUSELAGE NOSE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5509K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5509K-2002-03-27), registration cancelled 2002-03-27, S/N 66, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CONVAIR 640 (340D)
- Registry model: [Convair 640-340D](https://openairdocs.org/model/convair-640-340d) (registry code 2422814) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce DART-542 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-dart-542-series) (registry code 54522, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 66
- Airframe hours: 42490
- Engines: ROLLS-ROYCE DART10MK542-4 2750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Zantop International
- Registered owner: Zantop Int'L Airlines, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 19, 1989, 48 hours before
- Departed: YIP, DETROIT, MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ATL, Atlanta Hartsfield, runway 26R, 9,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,404 total, 450 in this make and model, 105 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ATL

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890803030349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890803030349A), Aug 3, 1989: Cvac STC340CVAC, Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. Landed hard, bounced 3 times collapsing nose gear. Used 30 degree flaps instead of 24 on a destabilized approach.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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