# NTSB NYC00LA265: Cessna 208B, N590TA, Greenville, ME, September 23, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 23, 2000, 19:50 local (23:50 UTC) - Place: Greenville, ME - Location: 45.4782° N, 69.5867° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from GREENVILLE MUNI (3B1), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4782&lon=-69.5867&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 8, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50312 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA265 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50312/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA265 ## 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 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) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - inattentive, pilot in command (cause) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N590TA-2006-12-15), registration cancelled 2006-12-15, S/N 208B0590 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 208B - Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 208B0590 - Airframe hours: 2671 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000923040369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000923040369A), Sep 23, 2000: Cessna 208B, Greenville, ME, Substantial damage. (.4) On September 23, 2000, at 1950 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 208B, N590TA, was substantially damaged when it impacted rising terrain during an… 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.