# NTSB DEN00LA036: Beech B200, N895TT, Jackson, WY, January 5, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 4, 2000, 17:25 local (Jan 5, 2000, 00:25 UTC) - Place: Jackson, WY - Coordinates: 43.470741, -110.759208 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4707&lon=-110.7592&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48434 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48434/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA036 ## Probable cause The pilot misreading the visual approach lighting system, resulting in his failure to maintain proper alignment with the runway and his selection of an improper touchdown point. Factors were the low ceiling weather conditions and the snow covered runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - vasi - misread, pilot in command (cause) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not selected, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor) ## Analysis While performing the ILS runway 18 approach to the airport, the pilot broke out of the clouds just above the decision height. He had the aircraft aligned with what he believed were the REILs (flashing white strobe lights that identify the end of the runway), but instead turned out to be the PAPI (four lights installed in a single row located on the left side of the runway). The airplane touched down on the left side between the runway and taxiway A, 2,200 feet from the threshold of the 6,299 foot runway. Upon touchdown, the nose landing gear collapsed. According to the Jackson Hole Airport Manager, the PAPI and REIL lighting systems for the runway were checked on the morning of and the morning following the accident. No discrepancies were observed, and the airport did not receive any reports from pilots or airport personnel that either system was inoperative. ## Factual narrative On January 4, 2000, at 1725 mountain standard time, a Beech B200, N895TT, registered to and operated by Whipple Development Corp. of Charleston, South Carolina, was substantially damaged when the nose gear collapsed during landing touchdown at Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming. The private certificated instrument rated pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan was filed for the personal cross-country flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Grand Island, Nebraska, at 1520 central standard time. According to the pilot, while approaching the Jackson Hole Airport, he was in instrument meteorological conditions and was number two for landing behind a Gulfstream. He listened to the airport's AWOS (Automated Weather Observing System) over the radio, and the weather was forecast to be one thousand foot overcast ceilings and one mile visibility. After performing one holding pattern, he was cleared for the ILS (Instrument Landing System) runway 18 approach. He stated that he broke out of the clouds "just above the decision height [6,745 feet above mean sea level; 300 feet above ground level], and had before me what I believed were the runway threshold lights." According to recorded weather observations, at 1715 and again at 1735, the ceilings were reported to be broken clouds at 200 feet with overcast clouds at 1,000 feet. The pilot stated during the landing approach, it was dusk and the runway as well as the surrounding airport area were covered by snow. He aligned the aircraft with what he "believed was the runway end identifier lights (REILs). Because of the position of my aircraft, thirty feet to the left of the runway, the best I can determine at this time is that I must have mistaken the precision approach [path indicator] (PAPI) for the REILs, and this lead [sic] me to conclude that I was lined up with the runway and runway threshold." The airplane touched down on the left side between the runway and taxiway A, approximately 2,200 feet from the threshold of the 6,299 foot runway, and traveled an additional 347 feet before coming to rest. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the aircraft sustained damage to the nose landing gear box, radome and forward bulkhead, and both engines and propellers. According to the FAA's Airport/Facility Directory, runway 18 is equipped with REILs and a PAPI-L (the L indicates that the PAPI is on the left side of the runway only). REIL's are two flashing white strobe lights, one located on each side of the runway, that identify the end of the runway. PAPI lights have four lights installed in a single row. If an aircraft is on the glide path, the two lights on the left of the PAPI will be white and the two lights on the right will be red. If all four lights are white, the aircraft is slightly high on the glide path. According to the Jackson Hole Airport Manager, the PAPI and REIL lighting systems for runway 18 were checked on the morning of and the morning following the accident. No discrepancies were observed, and the airport did not receive any reports from pilots or airport personnel that either system was inoperative. There is no approach lighting system (ALS) installed on runway 18. ## Aircraft - Registration: N895TT (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Beech B200 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: BB-1239 - Airframe hours: 3238 - Engines: P&W PT-6-A-42 850 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Edward L. Terry - Registered owner: Whipple Development Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 10, 1999, 120 hours before - Departed: GRI, GRAND ISLAND, NE - Destination: JAC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: JAC, Jackson Hole Airport, runway 18, 6,299 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,605 total, 361 in this make and model, 2,475 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 220° at 13 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft broken - Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: JAC ## 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 20000104008609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000104008609A), Jan 4, 2000: Beech B200, Jackson, WY, No damage. (-23) Pilot landed a/c left of the runway using precision approach path indicator as guidance in weather conditions of limited visibility. Runway end… 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.