National Transportation Safety Board
Aviation Accident Data Summary
AEROSPATIALE ALENIA ATR 42-320
Part 121: Air Carrier - Non-scheduled
Analysis
The Safety Board’s full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/Publictn/A_Acc1.htm. The Aircraft
Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-11/02.
On January 27, 2009, about 0437 central standard time, an Avions de Transport Régional
Aerospatiale Alenia ATR 42 320, N902FX, operating as Empire Airlines flight 8284, was on an
instrument approach when it crashed short of the runway at Lubbock Preston Smith International
Airport, Lubbock, Texas. The captain sustained serious injuries, and the first officer sustained minor
injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to Federal Express
Corporation and operated by Empire Airlines, Inc., as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121
supplemental cargo flight. The flight departed from Fort Worth Alliance Airport, Fort Worth, Texas,
about 0313. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan
was filed.
Flight Events
Approach-IFR final approach - Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Approach-IFR initial approach - Aerodynamic stall/spin
Probable Cause
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The flight crew's failure to monitor and maintain a minimum safe airspeed while executing an
instrument approach in icing conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at low altitude.
Contributing to the accident were 1) the flight crew's failure to follow published standard operating
procedures in response to a flap anomaly, 2) the captain's decision to continue with the unstabilized
approach, 3) the flight crew's poor crew resource management, and 4) fatigue due to the time of day
in which the accident occurred and a cumulative sleep debt, which likely impaired the captain's
performance.
Findings
Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not
attained/maintained - C
Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Flight crew - C
Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot - F
Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-(general)-Flight crew - F
Personnel issues-Physical-Alertness/Fatigue-Lack of sleep-Pilot - F