- Date
- March 10, 2015, 07:40 local (11:40 UTC)
- Place
- Muskegon, MI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N12155Cessna 208B
- Defining event
- Approach-IFR final approach: Abrupt maneuver
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report September 11, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20150310002149A
- Case key
- 90855
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision to continue the landing when the airplane was not in a safe position to land, resulting in the collision with ground-based approach lighting.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he flew an autopilot coupled approach to minimums in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The pilot exited IMC at the decision height, disconnected the autopilot, and the approach lights became visible. The pilot determined he was right of the runway and as he maneuvered to realign the airplane with the runway, he struck elements of the approach light system. A postaccident examination revealed the airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer. Effective at the time of this accident was a permanent Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) associated with the ILS runway 24 approach prohibiting a coupled autopilot approach from 1150 feet mean seal level to the surface. During a post-accident interview the pilot stated he was unaware of this NOTAM. The NOTAM had been in effect since February 21st, 2014 and the approach chart used did not note this approach restriction. Weather at the time of the accident was reported as winds from 250 degrees at 5 knots, ½ statute mile visibility, 200 feet overcast, temperature 32 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and altimeter 30.04 inches of mercury. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he flew an autopilot coupled approach to minimums in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The pilot exited IMC at the decision height, disconnected the autopilot, and the approach lights became visible. The pilot determined he was right of the runway and as he maneuvered to realign the airplane with the runway, he struck elements of the approach light system. A postaccident examination revealed the airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer. Effective at the time of this accident was a permanent Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) associated with the ILS runway 24 approach prohibiting a coupled autopilot approach from 1150 feet mean seal level to the surface. During a post-accident interview the pilot stated he was unaware of this NOTAM. The NOTAM had been in effect since February 21st, 2014 and the approach chart used did not note this approach restriction. Weather at the time of the accident was reported as winds from 250 degrees at 5 knots, ½ statute mile visibility, 200 feet overcast, temperature 32 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and altimeter 30.04 inches of mercury. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N12155
- Reported as
- Cessna 208B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 208B0562
- Built
- 1996
- Airframe hours
- 11,243
- Engine
- Pratt and Whitney PT6A-114A, 675 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Martinaire Aviation, L.L.C., doing business as Martinaire
- Registered owner
- Aero Leasing INC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · March 3, 2015
- Departed
- KLAN · Lansing, MI
- Destination
- KMKG · Muskegon, MI
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- KMKG · Muskegon County Airport, runway 24, 6,501 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Auto-pilot, Stall warning system
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 71
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 7, 2014
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 8,316 total · 5,350 in this make and model · 8,020 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 0.5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 200 ft
- Temperature
- 34 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- KMKG
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 26, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.8 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.