# NTSB MKC90MA049: Grumman G1159, N46TE, Little Rock, AR, January 19, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: January 19, 1990, 17:09 local (23:09 UTC)
- Place: Little Rock, AR
- Coordinates: 34.729179, -92.230323 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7292&lon=-92.2303&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 7 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 3, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35019
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC90MA049
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35019/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC90MA049

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO FOLLOW IFR PROCEDURES (MAINTAIN AN ILS GLIDE PATH OR INITIATE A MISSED APPROACH) DURING AN IFR ARRIVAL TO THE AIRPORT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: UNFAVORABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AN ERRONEOUS WIND INDICATION FROM THE LOW LEVEL WINDSHEAR ALERT SYSTEM (LLWAS), WHICH RESULTED IN AN INACCURATE WEATHER (WIND) OBSERVATION, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOTS TO TAKE ADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - drizzle/mist (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,wind direction indicator - failure,partial (contributing factor)
  - weather observation - inaccurate (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - inadequate (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - approach light/navaid
  - object - fence

## Analysis

DRG ARRIVAL, HVY RAIN SHOWERS WERE RPRTD WEST OF ARPT. AT THE ARPT, THE WX WAS ABT 200' OBSCD WITH FOG & DRIZZLE, WND WAS EASTERLY AT 5 TO 7 KTS. THE PLTS INTENDED TO LND ON RWY 22, BUT AFTER BEING TOLD THE WND WAS GSTG TO 27 KTS, THEY ELECTED TO LND ON RWY 4. THE ACTUAL WND WAS NOT GSTY. THE ERRONEOUS GST INDCN WAS FM A MALFUNCTION OF THE LLWAS. ON FINAL APCH FOR AN ILS RWY 4 APCH, THE FLT WAS ADZD THE WND WAS FM 030 DEG AT 5 KTS & THE RVR WAS 1800 FT. MIN RVR FOR THE APCH WAS 2400'. THE CREW ACKNOWLEDGED; 22 SEC LTR, THE ELT ACTVTD AS THE ACFT TOUCHED DWN 1600' SHRT OF RWY 4 & HIT APCH LGTG SYS, RAILROAD TRACKS & A FENCE. INV REVEALED THE ACFT DSCNDD THRU WINDSHEAR. WHILE MNVRG ONTO FINAL APCH; GND SPD VARIED BTN 320 & 190 KTS AS ACFT WAS MNVRD THRU TAILWIND TO HEADWIND NR FAF. CVR DATA VERIFIED A DELAY IN DSCNT FM 4000' TO 1900' BFR RCHG FAF & THAT THE GEAR WARNING HORN SOUNDED BFR EXTN OF GEAR & SPD BRAKES. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF LOW ENG RPM DRG IMPACT, BUT NO PREIMPACT MECH PRBLM WAS FND. EACH PLT HAD OVER 10,000 HRS OF FLT TIME, BUT ONLY ABT 160 HRS EACH IN JET ACFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N46TE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46TE-1990-06-06), registration cancelled 1990-06-06, S/N 243 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G1159
- Registry model: [Gulfstream American G-1159](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-american-g-1159) (registry code 3970108) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0243
- Airframe hours: 5812
- Engines: Rolls-Royce SPEY 511-8 11400 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Tennessee Eastman
- Registered owner: Tennessee Eastman Kodak
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 10, 1990, 31 hours before
- Departed: GGG, LONGVIEW, TX
- Destination: LIT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LIT, Adams Field, runway 4, 7,173 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 18,609 total, 160 in this make and model, 180 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: variable at 6 knots
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LIT

## 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 19900119000749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900119000749A), Jan 19, 1990: Gulstm G1159, Little Rock, AR, Destroyed, 7 fatal. Crashed short of runway on ILS approach in near zero IMC. Descended below dh. Windshear suggested.

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.