# NTSB CHI90IA089: Fokker F-27-200, N270MA, Marquette, MI, February 24, 1990

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: February 23, 1990, 22:22 local (Feb 24, 1990, 04:22 UTC)
- Place: Marquette, MI
- Coordinates: 46.549747, -87.389083 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5497&lon=-87.3891&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 28 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14565
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90IA089
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14565/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90IA089

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING TOUCHDOWN AND ROLLOUT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WEATHER WAS REPORTED AT APPROACH MINIMUMS WITH SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW. THE RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT WAS ACQUIRED AT OR ABOVE DECISION HEIGHT. AT TOUCHDOWN A WHITEOUT OCCURRED AND FORWARD VISIBILITY WAS REDUCED TO ZERO. THE CAPTAIN WHO WAS PILOTING THE AIRCRAFT LOST VISUAL REFERENCE TO THE RUNWAY AND SUBSEQUENTLY WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHEN IT DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT AND THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR CONTACTED DEEP SNOW. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WAIST DEEP SNOW 100 FEET OFF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE LANDING GEAR WAS DAMAGED. NONE OF THE CREW OF THREE NOR ANY OF THE 25 PASSENGERS REPORTED INJURIES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N270MA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N270MA-1997-02-18), registration cancelled 1997-02-18, S/N 10212 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FOKKER F-27-200
- Registry model: [Fokker F.27-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/fokker-f-27-200) (registry code 4990620) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 10212
- Airframe hours: 48238
- Engines: Rolls-Royce 532-7R turbo prop
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Mesaba Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: DTW, DETROIT, MI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MQT, Marquette Co., runway 8, 6,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,063 total, 264 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 30° at 14 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MQT

## FAA reports on this event (1)

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

- [Incident 19900224002649I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900224002649I), Feb 24, 1990: Fokker F27MK200, Marquette, MI, Minor damage. Veered off right side of runway. Pilot stated he lost visual reference due to blowing snow.

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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