CHI03FA041

The airplane collided with trees and terrain following a loss of control during an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach at night. The impact occurred approximately 2.1 miles from the approach end of the runway. A witness reported hearing the airplane at "mid-throttle" as it flew over. He then heard the power increase followed by the impact. The witness stated there was no precipitation at the time of the accident and there were "severe winds, mostly from the south, shifting volatile directly from the east." He also stated the visibility was "extremely poor." Statements were received from five pilots who landed in transport category airplanes around the time of the accident. Three of these pilots reported experiencing a crosswind that varied from 15 to 50 knots during the approach. Four of the pilots reported airspeed fluctuations that varied between +/- 8 knots to +/- 10 knots during the approach. Three of the pilots reported breaking out of the clouds between 200 and 300 feet agl. Radar data indicates the airplane was high on the glideslope until it entered a rapid descent from an altitude of about 2,300 feet. Examination of the airframe, engine, and propeller governors failed to reveal any failures/malfunctions that would have resulted in the loss of control.

History of flight

On December 17, 2002, at 2251 central standard time, a Cessna 208B, N277PM, operated by Planemasters LTD as flight 1627 (PMS1627), collided with the trees and terrain while on the Instrument Landing System (ILS) Runway 7 approach to the Greater Rockford Airport (RFD), Rockford, Illinois. The pilot received fatal injuries and the airplane was destroyed. The 14 CFR Part 135 non scheduled domestic cargo flight was transporting cargo for United Parcel Service (UPS) at the time of the accident. The flight was operating in instrument meteorological conditions on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The flight departed Decatur, Illinois, at 2154.

A Trip Log that was provided by Planemasters shows the pilot departed the DuPage Airport (DPA), West Chicago, Illinois, at 1835, on December 16, 2002, en route to the Decatur Airport (DEC), Decatur, Illinois, where he landed at 1935. He then departed DEC at 2150 en route to RFD, where he landed at 2245. The trip continued with a departure from RFD at 0355 on December 17, 2002, en route to the Williamson County Regional Airport (MWA), Marion, Illinois, where he landed at 0550. The pilot then departed MWA at 0705 en route to DEC, arriving at 0750. The pilot then took off from DEC at 2154.

At 2230:47, PMS1627 contacted RFD approach control and reported being at 6,000 feet with information Zulu. The approach controller issued the ILS Runway 7 approach to PMS1627.

At 2233:42, PMS1627 was issued a 10 degree heading change for vectors to base. The pilot acknowledged this transmission.

At 2236:48, the approach controller instructed PMS1627 to fly a heading of 310 degrees and to descend to and maintain 3,000 feet. The pilot acknowledged this transmission.

At 2243:15, the approach controller instructed PMS1627 to turn left to a heading of 290 degrees. The pilot acknowledged this transmission.

At 2243:59, the approach controller asked PMS1627 if he could operate at 170 knots. The pilot responded, "ah be pushing it sir." The controller then asked if he could maintain 150 knots. The pilot responded affirmatively.

At 2244:37, the approach controller issued a heading of 320 degrees and a caution for wake turbulence. The pilot acknowledged this transmission.

At 2245:42, PMS1627 was instructed to turn to a heading of 120 degrees to intercept the localizer. The pilot acknowledged this transmission.

At 2248:48, the approach controller instructed the pilot to turn back left to a heading of 120 degrees to join the localizer. The pilot acknowledged the transmission.

At 2249:30, PMS1627 was cleared for the ILS Runway 7 approach.

At 2249:42, PMS1627 was instructed to contact the tower.

At 2250:58, PMS1627 contacted the tower. The local controller issued the winds as 140 degrees at 18 knots and PMS1627 was cleared to land. The pilot acknowledged this transmission. This was the last contact with PMS1627.

At 2252:09, the local controller issued the winds as 110 degrees at 15 knots.

At 2252:47, the local controller instructed PMS1627 to report being on the runway.

Between 2253:03 and 2254:28, the local controller made four attempts to contact PMS1627. At 2256:22, the local controller asked UPS487 if they would look for a Cessna 208 when they were taxiing in. At 2301:40, UPS487 reported to local controller that their operations stated a Planemaster had landed just prior to them and that it was over at the remote ramp by the terminal.

At 2257, the Winnebago County Sheriff's Police received a report of the airplane crash. Officers met with the caller who directed them to the area where he heard the noise. The officers began searching the area. They stated they were able to smell a strong odor of fuel in the area. The Sergeant in charge of the investigation reported that at 2303, a 911 dispatcher contacted the RFD control tower regarding the call they received reporting an accident. The tower personnel advised the dispatcher that they were missing an airplane. At 2309, the tower advised the dispatcher, that they had located the airplane on the airport. The Sheriff's Police continued to search the area. The Sergeant stated that at 0045 the tower contacted the Sheriff's Police and stated that they were in fact missing a Cessna 208. The Sheriff's Police located the wreckage at 0053. (See ATC Group Chairman's Factual Report for additional details.)

The witness who called the Sheriff's Police stated during an interview that he lives approximately 2 miles west of the airport and one-half mile north of the accident site. He stated he has lived there for 14 years, so he is accustomed to the sound of airplanes. He stated he heard the airplane fly over at a "mid-throttle" power setting. He then heard a sound for about 3 seconds that he likened to an airplane "falling" with the same engine sounds as before. He then heard the engine sound increase "when the pilot throttled it." Based on the sound, he estimated the airplane was about 70 feet above the ground. He heard the increase in engine noise for about 4 to 5 seconds followed by the sound of the airplane hitting, then silence. He stated the sounds were south of his location. The witness stated there was no precipitation at the time of the accident and there were "severe winds, mostly from the south, shifting volatile directly from the east." He also stated the visibility was "extremely poor."

Personnel information

The pilot received a private pilot certificate with a single engine land rating on September 30, 1994. On November 20, 1996, the pilot failed the flight portion of an instrument airplane check ride. The pilot took the test again, passed, and was issued an instrument airplane rating on December 21, 1996. On June 7, 1999, the pilot failed the flight portion of his commercial pilot check ride. He retested and passed on July 31, 1999. On April 13, 2001, the pilot was issued a multi-engine rating on his commercial pilot certificate.

On February 15, 2002, the pilot was issued a Federal Aviation Administration second class medical certificate. The medical certificate contained a limitation for corrective lenses.

The pilot had been employed at Planemasters LTD since March 2002. The aircraft operator provided a Pilot Profile, which was last updated on November 19, 2002. The profile indicates the pilot had a total flight time of 1,841 hours, of which 1,686 hours were pilot-in-command. The profile also indicated the pilot had 1,497 hours of Cessna 208 flight time, 257 hours of actual instrument time, and 1,065 hours of night flight time.

A computer-generated logbook was provided by Planemasters LTD, which showed the pilot flew 19.8 hours between November 19, 2002 and November 26, 2002. The log indicated 16.9 of these hours were in a Cessna 208, 2.4 hours were instrument flight time, and 13.8 hours were at night.

A Pilot Duty Record provided by Planemasters LTD showed the pilot flew 11.3 hours between December 9, 2002 and the date of the accident.

The Pilot Ground Training Log provided by Planemasters LTD indicates the pilot received recurrent training on August 21, 2002. The type aircraft is listed as a Cessna 208 and the remarks state "135 PIC Oral." The remarks section on a Pilot Flight Training Log for this same date states "135 PIC Checkride."

Aircraft information

The aircraft was a single engine Cessna 208B, s/n 208B0143. In February 2001, the aircraft registration number was changed from N9648B to the current number of N277PM. The Hobbs meter in the airplane indicated a time of 5,320.2 hours. The airplane was maintained in accordance with an Approved Aircraft Inspection Program (AAIP). Records show the last maintenance performed on the airplane was on November 21, 2002, when the Bendix/King radar was repaired. On this date the aircraft total time was listed as 10,119.6 hours.

The engine was a Pratt & Whitney PT6-A-