# NTSB MKC88FA027: British Aerospace BAE-3101, N331PX, Joplin, MO, December 14, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 14, 1987, 13:58 local (19:58 UTC)
- Place: Joplin, MO
- Coordinates: 37.079292, -94.49974 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0793&lon=-94.4997&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 5 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34475
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC88FA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34475/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC88FA027

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - windshear
  - aborted landing - not performed, pilot in command
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE CAPT STATED THAT HE HAD PLANNED THE APPROACH AT A HIGHER-THAN-NORMAL AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE DUE TO A REPORTED LOW LEVEL WINDSHEAR. AT 400 FEET AGL THE ACFT ENTERED A LIGHT DOWNDRAFT BUT THE CREW CORRECTED THE DESCENT PROFILE WITH POWER. AT 200 FEET AGL THE ACFT SUDDENLY, ACCORDING TO THE CAPT, PITCHED DOWN BEFORE IMPACTING THE RUNWAY. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ACFT PITCHED DOWN ON SHORT FINAL, LEVELED OFF, THEN SLAMMED ONTO THE RUNWAY ON ALL WHEELS. IT THEN BOUNCED, PITCHED DOWN AGAIN AND IMPACTED THE RUNWAY NOSE-FIRST. A SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION, OPERATIONAL TEST, AND TEARDOWN OF THE AIRPLANE'S STALL PROTECTION SYSTEM FOUND IT TO BE FUNCTIONING SATISFACTORILY. THE TWO POWERPLANTS ALSO TESTED WITHIN NORMAL PARAMETERS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N331PX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N331PX-1997-09-29), registration cancelled 1997-09-29, S/N 700 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BRITISH AEROSPACE BAE-3101
- Registry model: [British Aerospace BAE JETSTREAM 3101](https://openairdocs.org/model/british-aerospace-bae-jetstream-3101) (registry code 1500216) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 700
- Airframe hours: 3470
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331-10 900 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Express Airlines, Inc., doing business as Republic Exp/Northwest Airlink
- Registered owner: Meridian Trust Co. (Trustee)
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, November 10, 1987, 246 hours before
- Departed: MEM, MEMPHIS, TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: JLN, Joplin Municipal, runway 13, 6,503 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,864 total, 414 in this make and model, 1,400 as pilot in command, 253 in the last 90 days, 82 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: JLN

## 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 19871214071219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871214071219A), Dec 14, 1987: Bag JETSTM3101, Joplin, MO, Substantial damage. Reported yoke jerked forward twice on flare. Aircraft bounced and nosed over impacting nose first. Blamed windshear

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.

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