Incident Overview

Date: Friday 29 December 2006
Aircraft Type: Beechcraft 99 Airliner
Owner/operator: Alpine Aviation
Registration Number: N99TH
Location: 16 km S of Rapid City Regional Airport, SD (RAP) – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Substantial, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Component Affected: AirplaneAirplane
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
An instrument flight rules aircraft impacted the ground due to a pilot error in following a published instrument approach procedure, resulting in altitude and clearance loss over terrain. The altimeter reading of 360 feet was a notable anomaly.An instrument flight rules aircraft impacted the ground due to a pilot error in following a published instrument approach procedure, resulting in altitude and clearance loss over terrain. The altimeter reading of 360 feet was a notable anomaly.

Description

The airplane was on an instrument flight rules flight in night instrument meteorological conditions when the accident occurred. The airplane had been cleared for an ILS approach and the pilot elected to use a non-published procedure to intercept the final approach. After becoming established on the final approach, the airplane impacted the ground about 7 miles from the destination airport at an elevation approximately the same as the airport elevation. Post accident examination of the altimeters revealed that the number one altimeter read 360 feet high. No determination was made as to whether the discrepancy existed prior to impact. However, the pilot did not report any pre-flight discrepancies with regard to the airplane’s altimeters. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The pilot’s failure to follow the published instrument approach procedure which contributed to his failure to maintain altitude and clearance from terrain during the instrument approach. A factor was the night light condition.”

Primary Cause

Pilot’s failure to follow the published instrument approach procedure, specifically due to night light conditions.Pilot’s failure to follow the published instrument approach procedure, specifically due to night light conditions.

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