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National Transportation Safety Board
Aviation Accident Data Summary
Location:
Lubbock, TX
Accident Number:
CEN09MA142
Date & Time:
01/27/2009, 0437 CST
Registration:
N902FX
Aircraft:
AEROSPATIALE ALENIA ATR 42-320
Injuries:
1 Serious, 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under:
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
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Personnel issues-Physical-Alertness/Fatigue-Circadian rhythms or jetlag-Pilot - F
Personnel issues-Task performance-Communication (personnel)-CRM/MRM techniques-Flight crew
- F
Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Ceiling/visibility/precip-Freezing rain/sleet-
Effect on equipment
Pilot Information
Certificate:
Age:
52
Airplane Rating(s):
Instrument Rating(s):
Airplane
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Instructor Rating(s):
Flight Time:
13200 hours (Total, all aircraft)
Co-Pilot Information
Certificate:
Age:
26
Airplane Rating(s):
Instrument Rating(s):
Airplane
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Instructor Rating(s):
Airplane Multi-engine; Airplane
Single-engine
Flight Time:
2000 hours (Total, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make:
Registration:
N902FX
Model/Series:
Engines:
2 Turbo Prop
Operator:
Engine Manufacturer:
Pratt and Whitney Canada
Operating Certificate(s)
Held:
Engine Model/Series:
PW 121
Flight Conducted Under:
Part 121: Air Carrier - Non-scheduled
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site:
Instrument Conditions
Condition of Light:
Night/Dark
Observation Facility, Elevation:
LBB, 3282 ft msl
Weather Information Source:
Weather Observation Facility
Lowest Ceiling:
Overcast / 500 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction:
10 knots / , 350°
Temperature:
8°C
Visibility
2 Miles
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Light - Freezing - Drizzle; Mist
Departure Point:
Fort Worth, TX (AFW)
Destination:
Lubbock, TX (LBB)
Airport Information
Airport:
Lubbock Preston Smith (LBB)
Runway Surface Type:
Concrete
Runway Used:
17R
Runway Surface Condition:
Ice; Wet
Runway Length/Width:
11500 ft / 150 ft
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Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries:
1 Serious, 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage:
Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
N/A
Aircraft Fire:
On-Ground
Ground Injuries:
N/A
Aircraft Explosion:
On-Ground
Latitude, Longitude:
33.658056, -101.820278 (est)
Administrative Information
Investigator In Charge (IIC):
Leah D Yeager
Adopted Date:
04/26/2011
Investigation Docket:
NTSB accident and incident dockets serve as permanent archival information for the NTSB’s investigations.
Dockets released prior to June 1, 2009 are publicly available from the NTSB’s Record Management Division
at pubinq@ntsb.gov, or at 800-877-6799. Dockets released after this date are available at
http://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms/.
1
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), established in 1967, is an independent federal agency mandated by Congress
through the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 to investigate transportation accidents, determine the probable causes of the
accidents, issue safety recommendations, study transportation safety issues, and evaluate the safety effectiveness of government
agencies involved in transportation. The NTSB makes public its actions and decisions through accident reports, safety studies, special
investigation reports, safety recommendations, and statistical reviews.
The Independent Safety Board Act, as codified at 49 U.S.C. Section 1154(b), precludes the admission into evidence or use of any part of
an NTSB report related to an incident or accident in a civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report.