# NTSB DCA86AA021: Embraer EMB-110P1, N1356P, Alpena, MI, March 14, 1986 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report - Date: March 13, 1986, 22:00 local (Mar 14, 1986, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Alpena, MI - Coordinates: 45.070789, -83.429153 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0708&lon=-83.4292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal, 5 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 7, 1988 - Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 15854 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA86AA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15854/pdf - Board report AAR8702 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8702.pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA86AA021 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor) - meteorological services - inadequate (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - inaccurate, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause) - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - decision height - not identified, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis DRG ARRIVAL AT 2125 EST, SIMMONS AIRLINE FLT 1746 WAS ADZD BY WURTSMITH AFB APCH CTL THAT THE 2052 EST WX AT PHELPS COLLINS ARPT WAS: SKY PARTIALLY OBSCD, CEILING 100' OVERCAST, VIS 1/2 MI WITH LGT DRIZZLE & FOG, & TO EXPECT AN ILS APCH. HOWEVER, AT 2119, A SPL WX OBS WAS TAKEN WHICH SHOWED THE VIS HAD DECREASED TO 3/8 MI, WHICH WAS BLO MINS. THIS INFO HAD NOT REACH WURTSMITH UNTIL SOMETIME LATER SINCE THE SYS FOR SENDING WX FROM PELLSTON FSS TO WURTSMITH WAS NOT AUTOMATED & WAS SLOW. FLT 1746 CONTD THE APCH, BUT THE PLTS DID NOT CLRLY SEE THE RWY LGTS, SO THEY MADE A MISSED APCH &ELECTED TO MAKE A 2ND ILS APCH. AT 2146, ANOTHER SPL WX OBS WAS TAKEN WHICH SHOWED THE VIS HAD DECREASED FURTHER TO 1/4 MI. THIS INFO WAS PROVIDED TO THE SIMMONS STATION MGR AT ALPENA, WHO TRIED TO CONTACT FLT 1746, BUT WAS UNABLE. AT APRX 2200 EST, THE ACFT HIT TREES & CRASHED ABOUT 1-1/2 MI SHORT OF RWY 1. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT FLT 1746 HAD CONTD BLO THEILS GLIDE SLOPE & DECISION HEIGHT (DH) WITHOUT OBTAINING VISUAL REFERENCE OF THE RWY. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1356P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1356P-2008-08-22), registration cancelled 2008-08-22, S/N 110.370, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EMBRAER EMB-110P1 - Registry model: [Embraer EMB-110P1](https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-emb-110p1) (registry code 3260122) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [U/A Canada PT6A-34](https://openairdocs.org/engine/u-a-canada-pt6a-34) (registry code 61534, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 110370 - Airframe hours: 9698 - Engines: P&W PT6A-34 783 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Simmons Airlines - Registered owner: Titan Partners - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: DTW, DETRIOT, MI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: APN, Phelps-Collins, runway 1, 9,001 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,384 total, 574 in this make and model, 172 in the last 90 days, 73 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 60° at 4 knots - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: APN ## 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 19860313013319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860313013319A), Mar 13, 1986: Emb EMB110P1, Alpena, MI, Destroyed, 2 fatal. The aircraft descended below glideslope and struck trees. Inefficient weather dissemination contributed to accident ## Other investigations on N1356P (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI83IA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83IA103), Feb 4, 1983: Embraer EMB-110 (N1356P), Milwaukee, WI, incident, minor damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.