# NTSB SEA85IA024: Fairchild Swearingen SA 227, Pullman, WA, November 30, 1984

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Date: November 30, 1984, 03:05 UTC, 19:05 local (the day before locally)
- Place: Pullman, WA
- Coordinates: 46.720001, -117.180076 (estimated)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 15 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director, September 30, 1994
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40070
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA85IA024
- NTSB report (PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40070/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85IA024

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT'S LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AFTER THE PLANE WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF RUNWAY 23 DURING TAKEOFF.  REPORTEDLY, THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT OF CENTERLINE ON A FAIRLY CONSTANT ARC UNTIL CONTACTING A SNOW BERM AT A TAXIWAY INTERSECTION.  AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TAKEOFF WAS BEING CONDUCTED AT NIGHT WITH A PARTIALLY OBSCURED WINDSHIELD.  VISIBILITY WAS ONE MILE WITH FOG AND FALLING SNOW, AND THE WIND WAS FROM 150 DEGREES AT 11 KNOTS.  THE RUNWAY WAS COVERED WITH ABOUT 1/4 INCH OF SNOW.  THE COPILOT'S DUTIES REQUIRED HIM TO SCAN 'INSIDE' THE COCKPIT, WHILE HE 'FINE TUNED' THE POWER SETTINGS AND CHECKED ENGINE INSTRUMENTS DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL.  NO PRE-ACCIDENT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.

## Sequence of events

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1014T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1014T-1990-08-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Fairchild Swearingen SA 227
- Registry model: Mooney M20J (registry code 5870219, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AC 432
- Airframe hours: 6649
- Engines: GARRETT TPE 331 840 horsepower
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Unknown, Part 135
- Operator: CASCADE AIRWAYS
- Departed: LWS
- Destination: LEWISTON, ID
- Airport: PUW, PULLMAN-MOSCOW, runway 23

## Flight crew

- Pilot; age 34; airline transport; medical class 1; hours: 6,200 total, 540 total in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 150° at 11 knots
- Visibility (statute miles): 1
- Lowest ceiling (ft AGL): 300
- Temperature (°F): 33.8

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of NTSB and FAA data. The NTSB's own report is the official record of an investigation.