# NTSB ERA19LA043: Aero Commander 690, N840JC, Myrtle Beach, SC, November 12, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 12, 2018, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Myrtle Beach, SC - Coordinates: 33.643611, -78.919441 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6436&lon=-78.9194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-IFR final approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Honeywell, FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98628 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19LA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98628/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98628 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA043 ## Probable cause An encounter with low-level windshear and turbulence during the landing approach, which resulted in a loss of airplane control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream AM Corp Comm Div 690C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=3970404), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream AM Corp Comm Div 690C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=3970404), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream AM Corp Comm Div 690C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3970404), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-IFR final approach: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360) (defining event); cases with it: [Gulfstream AM Corp Comm Div 690C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=3970404), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) - [Approach-IFR final approach: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Gulfstream AM Corp Comm Div 690C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=3970404), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-IFR final approach: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Gulfstream AM Corp Comm Div 690C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3970404), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was approaching the airport to land in instrument meteorological conditions when he encountered heavy turbulence. He continued the approach and the airplane started to descend rapidly. Although he added full power in an attempt to climb, the airplane continued to descend until it collided with the Atlantic Ocean. The forward portion of the fuselage, which included the cockpit separated from the airplane. The pilot did not report any anomalies with the airplane before the accident. Review of weather information for the area of the airport about the time of the accident revealed light to moderate precipitation with a high potential for moderate turbulence and low-level wind shear below about 2,000 ft. Radar imagery did not reveal signatures typically associated with microburst activity. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot encountered low-level windshear and turbulence during the approach, which resulted in a loss of airplane control. ## Factual narrative On November 12, 2018, about 1415 eastern standard time, a Gulfstream American (Aero Commander) 690C, N840JC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The commercial pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was following radar vectors for the downwind leg of the traffic pattern to runway 36 at MYR. He turned onto final approach and was inside the outer marker when he encountered heavy turbulence. As he continued the approach, he described what he believed to be a microburst and the airplane started to descend rapidly. The pilot added full power in an attempt to climb, but the airplane continued to descend until it collided with the Atlantic Ocean 1 mile from the approach end of runway 36. A witness stated that the airplane looked "relatively low." He watched the airplane for about 10 seconds before it impacted the water about 150-300 ft from the shore. He stated that the airplane was not doing anything erratic and he could not remember if he heard the engines running. After impact, the forward portion of the fuselage which included the cockpit separated from the airplane. The witness swam out to the airplane and assisted the pilot to the shore. In addition to the fuselage damage, the airplane also sustained substantial damage to the left wing and right horizontal stabilizer. The 1456 weather recorded at MYR included overcast clouds at 500 ft above ground level (agl) and wind from 360° at 10 knots. The temperature was 13°C and the dew point was 13°C. The altimeter setting was 30.16 inches of mercury. Between 1356 and 1456, the visibility was restricted in some form, likely in rain and/or mist, but the weather phenomena were not reported. Precipitation accumulation was noted during this period in the remark section. It is unknown why the system did not report or why the tower observer did not record or augment the observation. Rain was later officially reported after 1550. The next closest official weather reporting station was about 12 miles northeast at Grand Strand Airport (CRE), North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The airport had an automated surface observation system (ASOS) augmented by tower personnel. At the time of the accident, wind was from 350° at 4 knots, visibility was 1 1/2 miles in moderate rain and mist, and the ceiling was overcast at 500 ft agl. The following figure shows the accident airplane’s flight track overlaid on base reflectivity radar imagery. The flight track showed the last radar target at 650 ft mean sea level near the accident site. Echoes of 5 to 15 dBZ extended over the flight track and accident site. No strong reflectivity echoes or gradients were noted over or in the vicinity of the accident site to indicate any thunderstorms and the radial velocity data did not detect any divergent couplets typically associated with microbursts. Figure -Basereflectivity image with flight track overlay The NAM sounding wind profile indicated a surface wind from the ENE at 7 knots with wind veering to the south and southwest above the frontal inversion with wind speeds increasing with height. The mean 18,000 ft wind was from 240° at 35 knots. At 2,000 ft, the wind was estimated from 120° at 30 knots. The sounding supported a high potential for moderate turbulence below 2,000 ft and low-level wind shear in the inversion layer. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N840JC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N840JC-2019-03-26), registration cancelled 2019-03-26, S/N 11676, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 690 (C) - Registry model: [Gulfstream AM Corp Comm Div 690C](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-am-corp-comm-div-690c) (registry code 3970404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331-5-252M](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-5-252m) (registry code 01522, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11676 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 8441.1 - Engines: Airesearch TPE33110T511K 750 horsepower turbo prop; Airesearch TPE331-5-252M 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 14, 2018, 4 hours before - Departed: CBE, Cumberland, MD - Destination: MYR, Myrtle Beach, SC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MYR, Myrtle Beach Intl, runway 36, 9,503 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 22,335 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 10 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KMYR, 2 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 20181112021729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181112021729A), Nov 12, 2018: Gulfstream Am Corp Comm Div 690C, Myrtle Beach, SC, Destroyed. On Monday November 12, 2018, a Gulfstream commander, with registration number N840JC was cleared to land on rwy 36 at Myrtle Beach international airport,… ## Other investigations on N840JC (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 WPR12CA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA145), Mar 23, 2012: Rockwell International 690C (N840JC), Conrad, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot did not maintain directional control of the airplane due to ice and slushy snow on the runway during the landing roll. ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 19, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98628. 5.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9467215&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20LA043_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9468046&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Pilot%20telephone%20interview%20LA043-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9468055&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20FAA%20email%20correspondence%20witness%20statements%20LA043-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 10 pages, 249 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9468787&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Logbook%20excerpts%20LA043-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of weather (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12940961&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20Memorandum%20LA043-Rel.pdf - Fuel recovery memorandum (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9468571&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20FAA%20email%20correspondence%20LA043-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 7, PDF, 9 pages, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9469246&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Honeywell%20Party%20Form%20Myrtle%20Beach%20SC_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 8, PDF, 5 pages, 419 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9469255&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA043-Rel.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.