# NTSB DCA88MA032: Fairchild SA227-AC, N622AV, Cary, NC, February 20, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: February 19, 1988, 21:27 local (Feb 20, 1988, 02:27 UTC)
- Place: Cary, NC
- Location: 35.8754° N, 78.8051° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from RALEIGH-DURHAM INTL (RDU), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8754&lon=-78.8051&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 12 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 4, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15896
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA88MA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15896/pdf
- Board report AAR8810 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8810.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA88MA032

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - weather condition - fog
  - light condition - dark night
  - climb - not maintained (cause)
  - visual/aural detection, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, company/operator mgmt (contributing factor)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (contributing factor)
  - mental performance overload, copilot/second pilot
  - monitoring - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - physical impairment, pilot in command
  - stall warning system - not engaged
  - procedures/directives - misjudged, pilot in command
  - visual/aural perception (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - descent - inadvertent, copilot/second pilot
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED DURING LOW CEILING, LOW VISIBILITY, AND NIGHT CONDITIONS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A RESERVOIR. ANALYSIS OF RADAR DATA INDICATED THE ACFT WAS IN A 45 DEGREE DESCENDING TURN. EXAM OF THE ACFT TRIM SYSTEM SHOWED THAT THE ACFT WAS TRIMMED FOR LEVEL FLIGHT. THERE WAS NO VOICE OR FLIGHT DATA RECORDER ON BOARD. A REVIEW OF ATC COMMUNICATIONS INDICATED THAT THE CAPTAIN WAS COMMUNICATING WITH ATC ALLOWING THE FIRST OFFICER TO ACCOMP-LISH THE FLYING DUTIES. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO INDICATIONS OF POWERPLANT OR SYSTEM FAILURES. HOWEVER, THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE SAS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, THE SAS SWITCH WAS IN THE OFF POSITION, AND NO SAS SYSTEMMALFUNCTION COULD BE FOUND. WITNESSES STATED THAT BEFORE THE FLIGHT THE CAPTAIN HAD COMPLAINED OF ILLNESS BUT HE DECIDEDTO REPORT FOR DUTY. COMPANY RECORDS SHOWED INSTANCES OF SUBSTANDARD PERFORMANCE BY THE FIRST OFFICER. THE INVESTIGATION FOUND COMPANY OVERSIGHT OF TRAINING, OPERATIONS, AND INADEQUATE FAA SUPERVISION. (SEE NTSB/AAR-88/10)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N622AV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N622AV-1996-10-30), registration cancelled 1996-10-30, S/N AC622 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD SA227-AC
- Registry model: [Fairchild SA227-AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-sa227-ac) (registry code 3377509) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AC-622
- Airframe hours: 4222
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331-11U-6 1000 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Avair, Inc., doing business as American Eagle
- Registered owner: Avair, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 15, 1988
- Departed: RDU, RALEIGH, NC
- Destination: RIC, RICHMOND, VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: RDU, Raleigh/Durham, runway 23R, 10,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,400 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 2,600 as pilot in command, 137 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 226° at 5 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RDU, 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 19880219048949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880219048949A), Feb 19, 1988: Swrngn SA227AC, Raleigh-Durham, NC, Destroyed, 12 fatal. Captain failed to note f/o made steep turn into lake and trees after takeoff. Distracted by false stall light.

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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