DEN05CA050

NTSB accident investigation · Grumman G-1159 · Logan, UT · January 20, 2005

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
January 19, 2005, 20:30 local (Jan 20, 2005, 03:30 UTC)
Place
Logan, UT
Injuries
9 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N74RQGrumman G-1159
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed · report March 30, 2005
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA Flight Standards District Office
FAA report
20050120000669A
Case key
60913

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's improper IFR operation by which he failed to comply to the missed approach procedure, and his improper evaluation of the weather resulting in an encounter with fog and his loss of visual contact with the runway during the landing.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight encounter with weatherLanding - flare/touchdown
Weather evaluation - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Weather condition - fogFactor
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in command
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Ifr procedure - improperPilot in commandCause
Missed approach - not performedPilot in commandFactor
Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Terrain condition - snowbankFactor

Analysis

The captain stated they had flown the GPS approach to runway 35. When they did not see the runway or runway environment they initiated a missed approach. During the missed approach, they were able to see the first 4 to 5 thousand feet on the approach end of runway 17. They "elected to circle to the north west to set up for a visual approach to runway 17." The captain stated that the approach was "slightly high and as a result, the flare was a bit higher than normal." The airplane entered the fog layer just prior to touchdown. The captain stated that during the landing flare the airplane had drifted to the left and "the aircraft settled onto the runway to the left of centerline and shortly thereafter the left main gear impacted a snow berm." The airplane turned hard to the left and departed the runway. The nose gear separated, the radome was crushed and the cockpit pressure bulkhead was broken open. The routine aviation weather report (METAR) at LGU reported the weather as follows: wind, calm; visibility, 1/4 statute mile in freezing fog; sky condition, vertical visibility 100 feet agl; temperature, minus 7 degrees Celsius (C), dewpoint, minus 7 degrees C; altimeter, 30.45 inches.

Factual narrative

On January 19, 2005, approximately 2030 mountain standard time, a Grumman G-1159, N74RQ, operated by Icon Health and Fitness, was substantially damaged when it departed the runway and impacted a snow bank during landing roll at Logan-Cache Airport (LGU), Logan, Utah. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The business flight was being conducted on an instrument flight rules flight plan under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The airline transport certificated captain, first officer, and seven passengers reported no injuries. The cross-country flight originated at Kansas City (MKC), Missouri, approximately 1730.

According to a written statement submitted by the captain, they had flown the GPS approach to runway 35. When they did not see the runway or runway environment they initiated a missed approach. During the missed approach procedure, they were able to see the first 4 to 5 thousand feet on the approach end of runway 17. They "elected to circle to the north west to set up for a visual approach to runway 17." The captain stated that the approach was "slightly high and as a result, the flare was a bit higher than normal." The airplane entered the fog layer just prior to touchdown. The captain stated that during the landing flare the airplane drifted to the left and "the aircraft settled onto the runway to the left of centerline and shortly thereafter the left main gear impacted a snow berm." The airplane turned hard to the left and departed the runway. The nose gear separated, the radome was crushed and the cockpit pressure bulkhead was compromised. An examination of the airplane's systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies.

The routine aviation weather report (METAR) at LGU reported the weather as follows: wind, calm; visibility, 1/4 statute mile in freezing fog; sky condition, vertical visibility 100 feet agl; temperature, minus 7 degrees Celsius (C), dewpoint, minus 7 degrees C; altimeter, 30.45 inches.

Aircraft

Registration
N74RQ
Reported as
Grumman G-1159
Category
Airplane
Serial number
113
Airframe hours
12,011
Engines
Rolls-Royce SPEY MKS11-8, 11,400 lbs thrust, turbo jetRolls-Royce SPEY MKS11-8, 11,400 lbs thrust, turbo jet
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Business · Part 91
Registered owner
CFS Air LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Last inspection
AAIP · May 17, 2004 · 225 hours before
Departed
MKC · Kansas City, MO
Destination
LGU · Logan, UT
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
LGU · Logan-Cache Airport, runway 17, 9,095 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
47
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Last flight review
April 11, 2004
Seat
Left
Flight hours
5,320 total · 1,253 in this make and model · 3,125 as pilot in command · 75 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 9 in the last 24 hours
Role
Co-pilot
Age
38
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Flight engineer, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
May 13, 2004
Seat
Rear
Flight hours
8,000 total · 3,000 in this make and model · 7,143 as pilot in command · 75 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 9 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Wind
200° at 4 knots
Visibility
0.25 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
100 ft indefinitevv
Temperature
19 °F, dew point 19 °F
Altimeter
30.45 inHg
Observed at
LGU, 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.