MIA97FA232

The pilot was cleared for a localizer approach by Atlanta Center & told to maintain 5,000 ft until crossing the final approach fix (FAF). Normal altitude at the FAF was 2,700 ft. The pilot was unable to land from this approach & performed a missed approach. He was handed off to Chattanooga Approach, then was cleared to cross the FAF at 3,000 ft & perform another localizer approach. About 1 mile from the FAF, the pilot was told to change to the airport advisory frequency. The pilot acknowledged, then there was no further communication with the aircraft. A short time later, witnesses heard the aircraft crash near the approach end of the runway. Examination of the crash site showed the aircraft had touched down in a grass area about 1,100 ft from the end of the runway, while on the localizer. Propeller slash marks showed both engines were operating at approach power & the aircraft was at approach speed. No evidence of precrash mechanical failure or malfunction of the aircraft structure, flight controls, systems, engines, or propellers was found. The 0621 weather was in part: 300 ft overcast & 1/2 mile visibility with fog. Minimum descent altitude (MDA) for the localizer approach was 1,180 ft msl; airport elevation was 710 ft. The pilot had flown 8 flight hrs, was on duty for 13.6 hrs the day before the accident, was off duty for about 6 hrs, & had about 4 hrs of sleep before the accident flight.

History of flight

On August 14, 1997, about 0611 eastern daylight time, a Beech BE-200, N74EJ, registered to Colvin Air Charter, Inc., operating as flight GHP740, collided with terrain while making a localizer approach to runway 14 at Dalton Municipal Airport, Dalton, Georgia, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the airline transport-rated pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from Athens, Georgia, the same day about 0517.

Representatives of Colvin Air Charter, Inc. reported the pilot was positioning the empty aircraft from the home base at Athens, to Dalton, where he was to pick up four passengers. He was then scheduled to depart Dalton with the passengers as a Title 14 CFR Part 135 air taxi flight to Roanoke, Virginia. The Colvin Aviation flight log found in the aircraft after the accident showed the pilot was scheduled to fly to Williamsburg, Virginia after Roanoke, to Muscle Shoals, Alabama after Williamsburg, and back to Dalton after Muscle Shoals.

Transcripts of air traffic control communications showed a person identifying himself as the pilot of GHP740 called the FAA Macon Flight Service Station at about 0450 and requested a weather briefing for a flight from Athens to Dalton and then on to Roanoke, Virginia. He was told that early morning instrument meteorological conditions were forecast for the area.

At about 0513, the pilot of GHP740 called on the aircraft radio to the FAA Atlanta Center, while on the ground at Athens, and was given an instrument flight rules clearance from Athens to Dalton. At 0518, the pilot reported to Atlanta Center he was climbing through 2,700 feet. At 0537, as the flight approached Dalton, the pilot was asked by controllers what instrument approach at Dalton he requested to fly and if he wanted to start the approach at the final approach fix or initial approach fix. The pilot requested the final approach fix. At 0541, the pilot was told to maintain 5,000 feet until the final approach fix and that he was cleared for a localizer 14 approach at Dalton. The normal altitude for passing the final approach fix is 2,700 feet. The pilot was asked at this time if he had the local weather and the pilot replied "that's affirmative." The pilot was unable to land from this approach and called Atlanta Center at 0555, reporting that he had missed approach and requested to go to the initial approach fix for another approach.

At 0600, the FAA Chattanooga Approach Control opened for the day, and the pilot of GHP740 was told by Atlanta Center to contact Chattanooga Approach. At 0601, the pilot of GHP740 contacted Chattanooga Approach, reporting he was level at 4,000 feet. The flight was cleared to 3,000 feet and given the Chattanooga altimeter setting. The pilot inquired about the weather at Chattanooga, and the controller reported visual meteorological conditions existed at Chattanooga at the time. The controller then issued radar vectors to the flight to place it on the final approach course. At 0606, the controller reported to the pilot he was 5 miles northwest of the "Hardwick radio beacon" and that he was cleared for the localizer runway 14 approach at Dalton. The final approach fix for the localizer runway 14 approach to Dalton is the Whitfield radio beacon and the pilot did not question the controllers use of Hardwick radio beacon. At 0607, the controller told the pilot he was 1 mile northwest of the "Hardwick" radio beacon, change to advisory frequency. The pilot acknowledged this and no further transmissions were received from the pilot.

Recorded radar data from Atlanta Center showed that GHP740 descended to 1,300 feet during the first approach to Dalton, reaching that altitude over the airport. During the second approach to Dalton the flight is last observed on radar at time 0602:32, at 3,600 feet, while initiating a left turn to intercept the final approach course. The flight was about 4 miles southwest of the Chattanooga VOR at this point. No further radar returns were received from the aircraft after this.

Witnesses reported hearing the aircraft crash near the approach end of runway 14 at Dalton Municipal Airport and seeing the postcrash fire. The first report of the crash to rescue personnel was at 0616.

Personnel information

The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with airplane multiengine land, airplane single engine land, and Learjet ratings, last issued on June 14, 1997. The pilot held a certified flight instructor certificate with airplane single engine and multiengine land and instrument airplane ratings, last issued on April 15, 1996. The pilot held a first class medical certificate with no limitations, last issued on April 8, 1997. At the time of the accident the pilot had accumulated 2,398 total flight hours, with 103 flight hours in the Beech King Air.

Company records show that the pilot flew 8 flight hours and was on duty for 13.6 hours the day before the accident. His duty time ended at 2135, and according to company personnel he would have spent about another hour getting the aircraft prepared for the flights on the day of the accident. The pilot's roommates reported the pilot lived about 20 minutes from the airport and arrived home about 2330, ate, and went to bed between 0000 and 0030, on August 14, 1997. After the accident, the pilot's alarm clock was found set for 0400. Company personnel stated the pilot was seen at the airport by maintenance personnel and other pilots at about 0430.

Federal Aviation Regulation Title 14 CFR Part 135.265 states that "no certificate holder may schedule a flight crewmember, and no flight crewmember may accept an assignment, for flight time during the 24 consecutive hours preceding the scheduled completion of any flight segment without a scheduled rest period during that 24 hours of at least" 9, 10, or 11 consecutive hours, depending on the length of the scheduled flights.

Additional personnel information is included in this report under First Pilot Information and in attachments to this report.

Aircraft information

At the time of the accident the aircraft had accumulated 6,328 total flight hours. The aircraft was last inspected on May 14, 1997, 78 flight hours before the accident, when it received an inspection in accordance with an approved aircraft inspection program. The pilot altimeter, first officer altimeter, pitot static system, transponder, and altitude encoder were last tested as required by Federal Aviation Regulations, on March 25, 1997. Additional aircraft information is included in this report under Aircraft Information and in attachments to this report.

Meteorological information

The Dalton Municipal Airport is equipped with a automated weather observing system (AWOS). At 0601 the AWOS reported the weather as clouds overcast at 300 feet, visibility 3/4 of a mile, temperature 75 F., dewpoint temperature 75 F., wind 160 degrees at 1 knot, and altimeter 30.01 in. Hg.

At 0621 the AWOS reported the Dalton Municipal Airport weather as clouds overcast at 300 feet, visibility 1/2 of a mile, temperature 75 F., dewpoint temperature 75 F., wind 170 degrees at 0 knots, and altimeter 30.02 in. Hg.

Sun and moon information indicates that at the time of the accident the sun was at -9.6 degrees on a bearing of 66 degrees, and the moon was at -38.3 degrees on a bearing of 275.4 degrees. Sunrise at Dalton on August 14, 1997, was at 0657.

Additional meteorological information is contain in this report under Weather Information and in attachments to this report.

Aids to navigation

Runway 14 at the Dalton Municipal Airport is equipped with a localizer approach system. The localizer provides the pilot with only course guidance to the runway and does not provide vertical guidance. The localizer for runway 1