- Date
- April 23, 1989, 17:01 local (21:01 UTC)
- Place
- New York, NY
- Injuries
- 241 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 26, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 36310
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the swearingen flight crew to properly identify the airplane they were to follow, prior to accepting the visual approach to runway 31R.
The failure of the swearingen flight crew to properly identify the airplane they were to follow, prior to accepting the visual approach to runway 31R.
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
Two 747S were on approach for rwy 31R, followed by a swearingen sa 227AC merlin. The merlin was given a visual approach which the pilot accepted and traffic he was to follow was called as being at the 11 o'oclock position. Radar data showed the first 747 only 10 degrees to the left of the nose of the merlin which the flight crew identified as the traffic to follow. The second 747 which was the one to be followed was 45 degrees to the left of the nose. The merlin passed approximately 300 ft over the top of the 2nd 747 in the vicinity of the outer marker while on the visual approach. No evasive action was taken. The captain of the merlin said he normally flys 1 to 1 1/2 dots high on the glide slope for wake turbulence. The sun was at an angle that backlighted both 747S.
Two 747S were on approach for rwy 31R, followed by a swearingen sa 227AC merlin. The merlin was given a visual approach which the pilot accepted and traffic he was to follow was called as being at the 11 o'clock position. Radar data showed the first 747 only 10 degrees to the left of the nose of the merlin which the flight crew identified as the traffic to follow. The second 747 which was the one to be followed was 45 degrees to the left of the nose. The merlin passed approximately 300 ft over the top of the 2nd 747 in the vicinity of the outer marker while on the visual approach. No evasive action was taken. The captain of the merlin said he normally flys 1 to 1 1/2 dots high on the glide slope for wake turbulence. The sun was at an angle that backlighted both 747S.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N3044J
- Reported as
- Fairchild Swearingen SA-227AC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AC-466
- Airframe hours
- 14,986
- Engine
- Garrett TPE-331-11U, 1,000 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Pocono Airlines, doing business as Trans World Express
- Registered owner
- Charles & Jean Harale
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · April 19, 1989 · 23 hours before
- Departed
- PVD · Providence, RI
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- JFK · John F Kennedy, runway 31R, 10,000 × 150 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.
- Registration
- N305TW
- Reported as
- Boeing 747-284B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20742
- Engine
- P&W JT9D-7A, 45,000 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Registered owner
- Trans World Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- LHR · Lundon, OF
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- JFK · John F Kennedy, runway 31R, 10,000 × 150 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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N3044J
- Age
- 26
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,550 total · 100 in this make and model · 567 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 70 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N305TW
- Age
- 52
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 14,943 total · 819 in this make and model · 9,579 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 70 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 17 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- JFK, 5 nm away