# NTSB NYC89IA123: Fairchild Swearingen SA-227AC, N3044J, New York, NY, April 23, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 23, 1989, 17:01 local (21:01 UTC)
- Place: New York, NY
- Coordinates: 40.650341, -73.790428 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6503&lon=-73.7904&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 241 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36310
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89IA123
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36310/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89IA123

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

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.

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

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

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

- Near collision between aircraft, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - identification of aircraft visually - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - identification of aircraft visually - improper, copilot/second pilot (cause)
- Near collision between aircraft, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - identification of aircraft visually - improper, pilot of other aircraft (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

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.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

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 1

- Registration: [N3044J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3044J-2013-06-06), registration cancelled 2013-06-06, S/N AC-466, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD SWEARINGEN SA-227AC
- Registry model: [Swearingen SA227-AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa227-ac) (registry code 8780603) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (registry code 01514, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AC-466
- Airframe hours: 14986
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331-11U 1000 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

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N305TW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N305TW-2013-04-02), registration cancelled 2013-04-02, S/N 20742, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 747-284B
- Registry model: [Boeing 747-284B](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-284b) (registry code 1384862) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT9D series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt9d-series) (registry code 52054, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20742
- Engines: P&W JT9D-7A 45000 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N3044J; age 26; 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
- Pilot, aircraft N305TW; age 52; 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

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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