# NTSB SEA90LA037: Swearingen SA226TC, N56EA, Coeur D'Alene, ID, January 31, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 30, 1990, 19:15 local (Jan 31, 1990, 03:15 UTC)
- Place: Coeur D'Alene, ID
- Coordinates: 47.589954, -116.910491 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5900&lon=-116.9105&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 21 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41164
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA90LA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41164/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90LA037

## Probable cause

THE LOSS OF THE FLIGHT CREW'S VISUAL PERCEPTION, DUE TO AN UNFORESEEN WHITEOUT CONDITION.  A RELATED FACTOR WAS THE SNOWBANK.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - whiteout (cause)
  - proper alignment - not possible
  - visual/aural perception (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER REACHING THE AIRPORT, IMC PREVAILED AND LIGHT SNOW WAS FALLING. AT THE DECISION HEIGHT, THE APPROACH LIGHTS AND THE RUNWAY LIGHTS WERE IN SIGHT. THE RUNWAY WAS COVERED WITH SNOW. DURING THE FLARE TO LAND, THE PILOT LOST DEPTH PERCEPTION AND RUNWAY ALIGNMENT FROM BLOWING SNOW. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN AND THE PILOT BELIEVEDTHE PLANE WAS SLIGHTLY LEFT OF THE CENTERLINE. HE CORRECTED WITH RIGHT RUDDER; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL LEFT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT WENT OFF THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST IN A SNOWBANK WITH DAMAGE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N56EA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA226TC
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC399
- Airframe hours: 9753
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331 840 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Empire Airlines
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 18, 1990, 57 hours before
- Departed: SEA, SEATTLE, WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: COE, Coeur D'Alene, runway 5, 7,400 × 140 ft, snow

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,030 total, 1,847 in this make and model, 5,660 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19900130001479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900130001479A), Jan 30, 1990: Swrngn SA226TC, Coeur D Alene, ID, Substantial damage. Lost sight of runway on flare due to snow on runway and blowing snow. Veered into snowbank. No request plow 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.

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