# NTSB MKC89FA202: Fokker F27, N280MA, Bemidji, MN, September 30, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 30, 1989, 10:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place: Bemidji, MN
- Coordinates: 47.480125, -94.869857 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4801&lon=-94.8699&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 29 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34699
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC89FA202
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34699/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89FA202

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER DESCENT RATE AND COMPENSATE FOR THE DOWNDRAFT ENCOUNTERED WHILE ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - runway
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE SKED FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED BRAINERD, MN ON TIME AND WITH NO DESCREPANCY NOTED BY THE CREW. THE FLIGHT PROGRESSED NORMALLY UNTIL ON FINAL APPROACH FOR RWY 31 AT BEMIDJI. THE LCL WX OBS RPTD WIND FROM 200 DEGREES MAG AT ONLY 5 KNOTS, RECORDED PRIOR TO THE AIRCRAFT INITIATING THE APPROACH FOR LANDING. (CVR) TRANSCRIPT INDICATED THE CREW EXPERIENCED STRONGER WINDS THAN FCSTD AND RPTD, BUT NOT SUFFICIENT FOR THE CREW TO ABORT THE LANDING. THE CREW RPTD A LOSS OF LIFT OVER THE THRESHOLD JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, WITH THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTING HARD ON THE RWY. DAMAGE WAS NOTED TO THE ACFT AFTER PAX'S HAD BEEN DEPLANED AT THE TERMINAL. TREES BORDER THE AIRPORT PERIMETER, WHICH THE CREW FELT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE WIND INSTABILITY AND POSSIBLE WIND SHEAR JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. NO RECORDING DEVICE WAS INSTALLED AT THE AIRPORT TO INDICATE WIND SHEAR OR INSTABILITY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N280MA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: FOKKER F27
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 10522
- Airframe hours: 37058
- Engines: Rolls-Royce S32-7R 1835 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Mesaba Aviation, doing business as Northwest Airlink
- Registered owner: Dutch Assett Leasing Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 26, 1989, 30 hours before
- Departed: BRD, BRAINERD, MN
- Destination: BJI, BEMIDJI, MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BJI, Bemidji, runway 31, 6,598 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,100 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BJI, 1 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 19890930065809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890930065809A), Sep 30, 1989: Fokker F27MK500, Bemidji, MN, Substantial damage. Hard landing and tail skid strike on landing. Reported unexpected downdraft on landing flare. Winds light,variable

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.