# NTSB SEA05LA014: Swearingen SA226TC, N162WA, Boise, ID, November 9, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 9, 2004, 04:20 local (11:20 UTC) - Place: Boise, ID - Coordinates: 43.564445, -116.222778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5644&lon=-116.2228&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60520 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60520/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA014 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain the required glidepath, and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance after visual contact with the runway during the instrument approach. ## Analysis During a night instrument landing system (ILS) approach to minimums, the airplane collided with the runways approach lighting system. In a written report the pilot stated that during the transition from instruments to visual references he "apparently went below the glide slope and took out two approach lights." The weather conditions recorded 16 minutes after the time of the accident were: visibility 1/4 statute mile in fog; scattered clouds at 100 feet AGL (above ground level); overcast skies at 600 feet AGL. The published decision height/altitude for the straight-in ILS runway 10R approach at Boise is 3,036 feet above mean sea level (200 feet AGL). The published minimum visibility for a straight-in ILS approach is 1/2 mile or an RVR of 1,800 feet. ## Factual narrative On November 9, 2004, about 0420 mountain standard time, a Swearingen SA226TC, N162WA, sustained substantial damage after colliding with the runway 10R approach lighting system at the Boise Air Terminal (Gowen Field), Boise, Idaho. The airplane is registered to Western Airlines LC of Boise, Idaho, and was being operated by Western Air Express as a domestic non-scheduled cargo flight under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions were reported at Boise at 0353 and 0436. The flight originated at Salt Lake City, Utah, (SLC) on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan at 0310. The pilot's flight planned destination was Boise, with Twin Falls, Idaho, as an alternate. In a written statement the pilot reported that while holding at the outer marker, the Boise tower advised him that the runway visual range (RVR) was 1800 and cleared him for the approach. The pilot stated that he "...picked up the glide slope, lowered the landing gear, and continued on normal descent. At approximately 250 AGL I picked up the glow of the rabbit, at 200 feet (3,036' [feet] on the altimeter) I looked outside and could see the rabbit and approach lights. I then continued to 100' [feet] where I could see the runway and continued to a normal landing. During my transition from instruments to visual at 2,936' [feet] I apparently went below the glide slope and took out two approach lights." The 0436 Boise SPECI METAR observation reported weather conditions, in part, as: visibility 1/4 statute mile in fog; scattered clouds at 100 feet AGL (above ground level); overcast skies at 600 feet AGL. The published decision height/altitude for the straight-in ILS runway 10R approach at Boise is 3,036 feet above mean sea level (200 feet AGL). The published minimum visibility for a straight-in ILS approach is 1/2 mile or an RVR of 1,800 feet. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N162WA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N162WA-2016-01-26), registration cancelled 2016-01-26, S/N TC418, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Swearingen SA226TC - Registry model: [Swearingen SA226TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa226tc) (registry code 8780404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (registry code 01514, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TL-418 - Engines: Garrett TPE-331 840 horsepower turbo prop; Garrett TPE-331 840 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Transportation Syatems Inc, doing business as Western Airlines - Registered owner: Western Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Destination: BOI, Boise, ID - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BOI, Boise Air Terminal /Gowen Fld/, runway 10R, 9,763 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 25,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 25,000 as pilot in command, 132 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 0.25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: BOI ## 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 20041109027639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041109027639A), Nov 9, 2004: Swrngn SA226TC, Boise, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft struck two malsr rail runway approach light towers while on final rwy 10R at kbol. Towers impacted area 2000' and 1800' from the runway… 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.