# NTSB NYC97LA183: Cessna 402C, N6879Y, Nantucket, MA, September 19, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 19, 1997, 19:48 local (23:48 UTC) - Place: Nantucket, MA - Location: 41.2533° N, 70.0605° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at NANTUCKET MEML (ACK), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2533&lon=-70.0605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39434 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39434/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA183 ## Probable cause the pilot's delayed decision to perform a go-around (missed approach). Related factors were: darkness, low ceiling, fog, and disorientation of the flight crew, while making the approach in conditions of limited visibility. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - light condition - night (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - flight into adverse weather - performed, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - go-around - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - decision height - below, pilot in command - flare - not attained, pilot in command - spatial disorientation, flightcrew (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot-in-command (PIC) and pilot/passenger (copilot) diverted to another airport prior to their destination because of low visibility at the destination airport. The visibility was low due to fog, but the pilots decided to continue to their original destination after they had deplaned their passengers. At the final destination, the PIC could not land from the first ILS approach due to poor visibility and attempted a second approach. He said that after the second approach, he had the runway environment in sight, but decided to go around because '... something didn't feel right.' The co-pilot said he got disoriented and confused, and called for a go-around. However, the airplane struck the ground immediately thereafter. Rescue workers reported difficulty finding the airplane due to poor visibility. They estimated the visibility at less than 25 feet. Weather reported at the time of the accident was: measured ceiling 100 feet obscured, 1/4 mile visibility with fog. The temperature and dew point were 65 degrees. Winds were from 180 degrees at 6 knots. ## Factual narrative On September 19, 1997, at 1948 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 402C, N6879Y, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during landing at the Nantucket Memorial Airport, Nantucket, Massachusetts. The certificated commercial pilot and pilot rated passenger were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the positioning flight that originated at Hyannis, Massachusetts, approximately 1920. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated the purpose of the flight was to transport passengers from Martha's Vineyard to Nantucket Memorial Airport. The pilot was accompanied by a commercial pilot rated passenger occupying the copilot's seat. The decision was made to divert to Hyannis and deplane the passengers because of low visibility at Nantucket. The visibility was low due to fog, and the Runway Visual Range reported was 500 feet. After deplaning the passengers and checking weather, the decision was made to continue to Nantucket. The pilot said he could not complete the Instrument Landing System (ILS) Approach to runway 24 due to poor visibility. He performed the missed approach procedure and requested a second approach. The pilot stated: "We flew a left downwind for 24 for the retry. Shot the ILS down to decision height of 248 feet. I saw the runway environment in sight. I went for the runway...[then] I went to go missed because something didn't feel right...Next thing I know, I'm [on the ground] pointing down [runway] 12." The passenger said the second ILS approach to runway 24 attempted by the pilot was "...dead on." He said the pilot monitored the flight instruments while he searched for the runway lights. The passenger further stated: "I saw the Rabbit [lights], then I got the runway end lights. [The pilot] said, 'I got the lights, I'm gonna go for it.' When we got closer, I couldn't see where we were exactly. I couldn't tell where we were in relation to the runway centerline. I think I got disoriented. When I got confused, I started to say, 'Go around! Go around! Go around!' Then he started to power up - then we hit." The passenger said when he announced the go-around, the pilot added power. He said the pilot's control inputs were smooth and unhurried. The passenger said the airplane struck the ground in a flat attitude with the wings level. He said, "Everything was perfect until we hit the ground." According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the airplane came to rest approximately 2,000 feet beyond the approach end of runway 24, 90 feet left of the runway surface. The passenger said neither he nor the pilot was in a hurry or under any pressure to return to Nantucket. When questioned about the airplane's performance, he responded, "The airplane was tip top." The pilot said that he was under no pressure to return to Nantucket. When questioned about the airplane's performance, The pilot stated: "The airplane was fine, good power. No problems." WEATHER The accident occurred during the hours of darkness. A weather observation from Nantucket Memorial Airport taken 5 minutes after the accident reported: Measured ceiling 100 feet obscured, 1/4 statute miles visibility with fog. The temperature was 65 degrees and the dew point was 65 degrees. Winds were from 180 degrees at 6 knots. In written statements, three firefighters described the visibility and its effect on rescue efforts. According to one firefighter: "...the visibility was so low, that I could not see a Gulfstream III (Business Jet) located directly in front of me about 50 feet away. Getting to the downed aircraft with the visibility so low took about three times as long as it would have if the visibility were even just at minimums." A second firefighter stated he requested help in the search for the wreckage due to poor visibility. He said: "Visibility was about 15 to 25 feet from the firetruck." A third firefighter stated: "Visibility was very poor due to heavy, thick fog...We could only see 10-15 feet in front of the crash truck." ADDITIONAL INFORMATION On September 20, 1997, the FAA performed a Flight Inspection of the ILS Runway 24 approach at the Nantucket Memorial Airport. According to the Inspection Report: "Facility operation found satisfactory." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6879Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6879Y-2013-05-02), registration cancelled 2013-05-02, S/N 402C0612, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 402C - Registry model: [Cessna 402C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402c) (registry code 207590R) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402C0612 - Airframe hours: 14200 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Ocean Wings Inc - Registered owner: Sun Wings Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 30, 1997, 15 hours before - Departed: HYA, HYANNIS, MA - Destination: ACK - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ACK, Nantucket Memorial, runway 24, 6,303 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,386 total, 395 in this make and model, 2,308 as pilot in command, 309 in the last 90 days, 136 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/bright - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 0.25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ACK ## 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 19970919027729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970919027729A), Sep 19, 1997: Cessna 402C, Nantucket, MA, Destroyed. Executed ILS approach to runway 24, crashed to the left of the runway. (-23) a/c impacted the ground (very hard) doing substantial to total damage to a/c,… ## Other investigations on N6879Y (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA85IA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85IA152), Apr 20, 1985: Cessna 402C (N6879Y), West Palm Beach, FL, incident, minor damage 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.