Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 6 January 1974
Aircraft Type: Beechcraft 99A Airliner
Owner/operator: Air East
Registration Number: N125AE
Location: Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, PA (JST) –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 17
Component Affected: Aircraft control systemAircraft control system
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
An aircraft crashed short of runway 33 after hitting an ILS tower. The incident was caused by a premature descent below a safe approach slope, leading to a stall and loss of aircraft control. Possible contributing factors included deliberate descent to establish reference, visual impairment due to runway/approach lighting, and downdrafts near the approach end of the runway.An aircraft crashed short of runway 33 after hitting an ILS tower. The incident was caused by a premature descent below a safe approach slope, leading to a stall and loss of aircraft control. Possible contributing factors included deliberate descent to establish reference, visual impairment due to runway/approach lighting, and downdrafts near the approach end of the runway.
Description
The aircraft crashed short of runway 33 after hitting an ILS tower. PROBABLE CAUSE: “A premature descent below a safe approach slope followed by a stall and loss of aircraft control. The reason for the premature descent could not be determined, but it was probably the result of: (1) A deliberate descent below the published minimum descent altitude to establish reference with the approach lights and make the landing, (2) a visual impairment or optical illusion created by the runway/approach lighting systems, and (3) downdrafts near the approach end of the runway.”
Primary Cause
Premature descent below a safe approach slope, resulting in a stall and loss of aircraft control.Premature descent below a safe approach slope, resulting in a stall and loss of aircraft control.Share on:
