- Date
- September 23, 2000, 19:50 local (23:50 UTC)
- Place
- Greenville, ME
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N590TACessna 208B
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 8, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000923040369A
- Case key
- 50312
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 in-flight decision to continue his descent without visual contact with the runway, and his inattention to his altitude, in relation to the airport elevation.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
According to the pilot, he was conducting a GPS approach during occasional low ceilings, reduced visibility and rain. At the minimum descent altitude, the ground was 'occasionally' visible through fog and rain. Near the missed approach point, the runway lights were visible, so he continued the descent. He lost visual contact with the runway, and began a missed approach, but collided with trees. The accident site was 2 miles prior to the runway, on rising terrain, 200 feet below the runway elevation. The missed approach point was over the approach end of the runway.
Factual narrative
On September 23, 2000, at 1950 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 208B, N590TA, was substantially damaged when it impacted rising terrain during an instrument approach to Greenville Municipal Airport (3B1), Greenville, Maine. The certificated airline transport pilot received minor injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight, between Bangor International Airport (BGR), Bangor, Maine, and Greenville. The corporate flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, he was performing a GPS RWY 14 approach to Greenville at the time of the accident. The pilot further stated:
"The area forecast indicated that VFR conditions prevailed with occasional low ceiling and reduced visibility and rain.... At MDA, the ground was visible occasionally through fog and rain. Near MAP, the runway lights were visible and aircraft continued descent. Runway visibility was lost, missed approach procedures instituted. Collision with trees occurred."
The airplane impacted rising terrain about 2 miles prior to the runway, at an elevation of approximately 1,200 feet. The airport elevation was 1,400 feet, and according to the GPS RWY 14 approach procedure, the minimum descent altitude was 2,300 feet. The missed approach point was over the approach end of the runway.
There were no weather reporting facilities in the area. However, a witness on the ground stated that it was foggy at the time of the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N590TA
- Reported as
- Cessna 208B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 208B0590
- Airframe hours
- 2,671
- Engine
- P&W PT6A-114A, 675 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive/Corporate · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Telford Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · August 22, 2000 · 72 hours before
- Departed
- BGR · Bangor, ME
- Destination
- 3B1
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- 3B1 · Greenville Municipal, runway 14, 3,999 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 48
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,350 total · 2,000 in this make and model · 5,300 as pilot in command · 225 in the last 90 days · 80 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MLT, 40 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.