# NTSB NYC82FA021: Swearingen SA 226-TC, N341PL, Jamaica, NY, January 15, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 15, 1982, 09:09 local (14:09 UTC)
- Place: Jamaica, NY
- Coordinates: 40.649822, -73.789916 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6498&lon=-73.7899&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor, 12 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 15, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71178
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC82FA021
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71178/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82FA021

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - proper climb rate - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

BEFORE N341PL STARTED TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 31L, A BOEING 747 WAS CLEARED TO TAXI SOUTHEAST DOWN THE OUTER/PARALLEL TAXIWAY.THE TAXIWAY WAS 375 FT RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE. THE 747 STOPPED MOMENTARILY, THEN TURNED 90 DEG LEFT ONTO TAXI- WAY KK. MEANWHILE, N341PL WAS CLEARED FOR AND BEGAN TAKING OFF. THE PILOT STATED HE SAW LIGHT SNOW BEHIND THE 747, BUT WAS NOT CONCERNED SINCE THE 747 HAD STOPPED. THE TOWER CONTROLLER AND ANOTHER WITNESS REPORTED AN INCREASING AMOUNT OF SNOW BEHIND THE 747 AS IT TURNED OFF THE OUTER TAXIWAY. AFTER LIFT-OFF THE PILOT REMAINED IN GROUND EFFECT WHILE ACCELERATING TO CLIMB SPEED. HE STATED HE WAS TRAINED TO USE THIS PROCEDURE ON ALL TAKEOFFS. THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTERHE CALLED FOR GEAR RETRACTION, HE ENTERED A WHITEOUT CONDITION, LEVELED HIS WINGS FROM A ROLL, AND ENCOUNTERED A DOWN- DRAFT. THE PLANE EMERGED FROM THE SNOW CLOUD AND STRUCK THE RUNWAY ABOUT 1100 FT BEFORE PASSING BEHIND THE 747. FLIGHT SAFETY INTL STATED THAT DURING GROUND/SIMULATOR TRAINING THEY RECOMMEND A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB IN IMC AND AT NIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N341PL (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA 226-TC
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC334
- Airframe hours: 3090
- Engines: AIRESEARCH TP-331 840 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Pocono Airlines
- Registered owner: Pocono Airlines
- Departed: JFK, JAMAICA, NY
- Destination: AVP, SCRANTON, PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: JFK, John F. Kennedy Int'L, runway 31L, 14,572 × 150 ft, macadam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 11,434 total, 1,328 in this make and model, 241 in the last 90 days, 88 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 18 knots
- Temperature: 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: JFK

## 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 19820115001169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820115001169A), Jan 15, 1982: Swrngn SA226TC, Jamaica, NY, Substantial damage. Forced back to runway on takeoff, after entering jet blast snow-cloud caused by a 747 taxiing on adjacent taxiway.

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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