# NTSB ERA14LA312: Raytheon C90A, N800MK, Houston, MS, June 25, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 25, 2014, 07:50 local (12:50 UTC) - Place: Houston, MS - Coordinates: 33.890277, -89.019447 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8903&lon=-89.0194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89540 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14LA312 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89540/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89540 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA312 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain a stabilized approach and his subsequent failure to maintain airplane control during the landing flare, which resulted in touchdown off the side of the runway and collision with a ditch. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Raytheon C90A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7150004), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Raytheon C90A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7150004), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Raytheon C90A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7150004), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Raytheon C90A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7150004), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Raytheon C90A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7150004), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Raytheon C90A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7150004), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was at the controls during the approach and landing. He stated that, just before touchdown, the right wing "rose severely" and that the copilot called out "windshear" and "go around." As he applied power, the airplane rolled left again, so he retarded the throttles. The airplane subsequently settled into the grass to the left side of the runway and then struck a ditch, spun around, and came to rest upright. The airplane was substantially damaged due to the impact and a postaccident fire. The copilot reported that it felt like the wind was trying to "lift the tail and cartwheel them over." The airport did not have weather reporting capability; however, surrounding airports reported light wind with no gusts, and no windshear was reported. A review of weather radar and geostationary weather satellite data for the accident region did not identify any convective or gust-front activity, and a review of National Weather Service data did not identify the presence of, or conditions conducive to, ground-level windshear for the accident region at the time of the accident. A review of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) transcript revealed that, although the copilot called out "go around," he did not mention windshear or any other weather phenomena at any time during the approach or accident sequence. Based on the conversation between the pilots recorded on the CVR, the approach was probably unstable for a period of time before landing. The CVR transcript also revealed that the more experienced copilot provided a significant amount of "coaching" during the approach; however, it could not be determined what effect this might have had on the pilot's performance. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn June 25, 2014, about 0750 central daylight time, a Raytheon Aircraft Company C90A, N800MK, was substantially damaged following a runway excursion during an attempted go-around at Houston, Mississippi (M44). The commercial-rated pilot, co-pilot, and two passengers were not injured, while one passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated by BECS, LLC under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed for corporate flight that originated at Memphis, Tennessee (MEM). According to the pilot, who was seated in the left, cockpit seat, he was at the controls and was performing a visual approach to runway 21. Just prior to touchdown, while at 90 knots and with approach flaps extended, the right wing "rose severely and tried to put the airplane into a severe left bank." He recalled that the co-pilot called "wind shear" and "go around." As he applied power, the airplane rolled left again, so he retarded the throttles and allowed the airplane to settle into the grass on the left side of runway 21. The airplane struck a ditch, spun around, and came to rest in the grass, upright. A post-crash fire ensued in the left engine area. The pilot and passengers exited the airplane using the main entry door. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. The co-pilot reported the following. As they turned onto final, he noticed that the wind "picked up" a little by the wind sock. The final approach was stable, and as the pilot began to flare, he noticed the vertical speed indicator "pegged out." The airplane encountered an unexpected wind shear just above the runway. He called out for a go around. The pilot was doing everything he could to maintain control of the airplane. It was a "jarring" effect when they hit the shear. It felt like the wind was trying to lift the tail and cartwheel them over. He felt that the pilot did a good job of keeping the airplane from flipping over. In his 30,000-plus hours flying airplanes, he has never experienced anything quite like what they experienced with this shear. He has instructed on the King Air and does not feel that the pilot could have done anything different to avoid the accident. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 35, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single engine land, airplane multi-engine land, and instrument airplane privileges. He reported 2,105 hours total flight time, including 223 hours in the accident airplane type. The co-pilot, age 56, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single engine land, airplane multi-engine land, instrument airplane, and flight instructor privileges. He reported more than 12,000 hours total time and more than 700 hours in the accident airplane type. He reported more than 7,000 hours as a flight instructor. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION M44 did not have weather reporting capability at the time of theaccident; the airfield was equipped with a wind sock. The closest station with weather reporting capability was Tupelo, Mississippi, located 26 nautical miles (nm) to the northeast. The surface wind at 0725, 0753, and 0853 was from 260 degrees at 6 knots, 270 degrees at 6 knots, and 280 degrees at 6 knots, respectively. The surface wind Aberdeen/Amory, Mississippi (M40), located 27 nm east of M44, at 0735, 0755, and 0815 was reported as calm. The surface wind at Starkville, Mississippi, located 29 nm south of M44, at 0735, 0755, and 0815 was from 250 degrees at 5 knots, 250 degrees at 5 knots, and 280 degrees at 4 knots, respectively. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were reviewed by a staff meteorologist with the NTSB. He reported that a review of surface weather stations in the region indicated the wind was generally from the west to southwest, with little variability beyond that, at magnitudes less than 10 knots. A review of both weather radar and geostationary weather satellite data for the accident region did not identify any convective or gust front activity. Forecast discussion products from the National Weather Service in Memphis, Tennessee, did not identify the presence of, or the conditions conducive to, ground-level wind shear for the accident region at the accident time. AIRPORT INFORMATION M44 was an uncontrolled airport with an elevation of 337 feet. There were no published instrument procedures at the time of the accident. Runway 3/21 was 4,400 feet long and 75 feet wide, and was constructed of asphalt. Runway 21 was equipped with a two-light precision approach path indicator (PAPI) set at 3.0 degrees. FLIGHT RECORDERS The airplane was equipped with a Fairchild A-100S cockpit voice recorder (CVR). The airplane was not equipped with a flight data recorder. The CVR was removed by the FAA inspector and shipped to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory, Washington, DC for examination. Due to quality issues with the recording, the speakers in this summary are referred to as "a pilot" or "the pilots." If a determination could not be made, the voice was referred to as "unidentified." The times referenced in the summary are elapsed time from the beginning of the recording (in minutes and seconds). At 26:21, a pilot reported the flight was crossing midfield for a left downwind for runway 21 at M44. At 26:51, one pilot asked the other, "You got it in sight brother?" followed by laughter. A pilot then said to the other, "One of the things you don't want to do" followed by unintelligible discourse. The pilots then confirmed that they could see the tower ahead. At 27:42, a pilot said, "Alright turn base." At 27:53, a pilot said, "Power power" and the other pilot responded "Yes sir." A pilot then said "Bring it on down." At 28:37, a pilot said, "Alright bring her on around." At 28:52, a pilot said, "Stop the turn." At 29:11, an unidentified voice asked, "Can you get it in there?" and a pilot responded "Yeah." At 29:39, anautomated voice reported, "Five hundred." At 30:02, a pilot was recorded at a higher volume saying, "Heading heading heading." During this time, a mid-level tone, similar to an altitude alert, sounded twice. At 30:05, a pilot said, "You can't pull that power back." At 30:10, a pilot said, "Alright get it in there." At 30:14, a pilot said, "Come on. Get it. Get it in there." At 30:17, a pilot was recorded at a high volume, saying, "Go around. Go around." The other pilot responded, "Goin' around." During this time, the engine sound increased. At 30:21, a pilot asked, "You got it? You got it?" Another pilot said, "No." At 30:25, the sound of a "thunk" was recorded, consistent with an initial impact. The recording ended coincident with the end of the thunk. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The airplane impacted and came to rest in a grass field to the left of runway 21, on airport property. He confirmed substantial damage to both wings and fire damage in the area of the left and right engines. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N800MK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N800MK-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N LJ-1460, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY C90A - Registry model: [Raytheon C90A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raytheon-c90a) (registry code 7150004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-21](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-21) (registry code 52172, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LJ-1460 - Year built: 1996 - Airframe hours: 2708 - Engines: P&W Canada PT6A-21 600 horsepower turbo prop; P&W Canada PT6A-21 600 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Operator: Becs, LLC - Registered owner: Becs, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, April 21, 2014 - Departed: MEM, Memphis, TN - Destination: M44, Houston, MS - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: M44, Houston Municipal, runway 21, 4,400 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 26, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,105 total, 223 in this make and model, 1,586 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days - Co-pilot; age 56; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 23, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 12,000 total, 700 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: TUP, 26 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 20140625012979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140625012979A), Jun 25, 2014: Raytheon Aircraft Company C90A, Houston, MS, Destroyed. Aircraft was on short final and throttles brought to idle when wind shear caused the right wing to rise up violently. Pilot got aircraft under control with no… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89540. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422035&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Young (item 2, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422036&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Young-Master.PDF - Cockpit Voice Recorder - Specialist's Factual Report (item 3, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422053&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cockpit%20Voice%20Recorder%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - Weather Information from NTSB Staff Meteorologist (item 4, .PDF, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422037&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information%20from%20NTSB%20Staff%20Meteorologist-Master.PDF - Weather Radar Depiction (item 5, .PDF, 520 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422038&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Radar%20Depiction-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Main Wreckage Left Side (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 478 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422039&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Main%20Wreckage%20Left%20Side%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Main Wreckage Rear (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 382 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422040&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Main%20Wreckage%20Rear%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Main Wreckage Front (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 482 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422041&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Main%20Wreckage%20Front%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.