# NTSB CHI93LA160: Aerospatiale ATR-42-300, N254AT, Muskegon, MI, May 5, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 4, 1993, 22:15 local (May 5, 1993, 02:15 UTC)
- Place: Muskegon, MI
- Coordinates: 43.240345, -86.249603 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2403&lon=-86.2496&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 44 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15710
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93LA160
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15710/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA160

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S MISJUDGING THE FLARE.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - fuselage,skin - bent
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ON LANDING THE PITCH ATTITUDE OF THE AIRPLANE EXCEEDED 10 DEGREES NOSE UP AND THE AFT FUSELAGE CONTACTED THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N254AT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE ATR-42-300
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0254
- Airframe hours: 3567
- Engines: P&W PW 120 2000 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Simmons Airlines, doing business as American Eagle
- Registered owner: Gpa Atr II, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, April 18, 1993, 121 hours before
- Departed: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MKG, Muskegon County, runway 6, 6,501 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,145 total, 1,775 in this make and model, 184 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MKG, 1 nm away

## 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 19930504012309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930504012309A), May 4, 1993: Aerosp ATR42300, Muskegon, MI, Substantial damage. Captain thought landing normal, was informed by ground personnel that tail struck runway on touchdown.

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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