Incident Overview
Date: Thursday 26 December 1974
Aircraft Type: Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander
Owner/operator: Harbor Airlines
Registration Number: N66HA
Location: ca 1 km N of Seattle/Tacoma International Airport, WA (SEA) –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Initial climb
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 6
Component Affected: Airspeed indicatorAirspeed indicator
Category: Accident
An Islander aircraft collided with terrain in the residential area of Riverton Heights, WA, resulting in a loss of airspeed due to faulty pitot tube readings caused by low visibility and snow conditions. The incident was likely triggered by instrument misreadings and the presence of foreign material.An Islander aircraft collided with terrain in the residential area of Riverton Heights, WA, resulting in a loss of airspeed due to faulty pitot tube readings caused by low visibility and snow conditions. The incident was likely triggered by instrument misreadings and the presence of foreign material.
Description
Visibility was poor due to snowfall when the Islander departed Tacoma Airport for Oak Harbor. Shortly after takeoff the airplane collided with terrain in the residential area of Riverton Heights, WA. Unknown matter in the pitot tube had caused unreliable readings of the airspeed indicator. PROBABLE CAUSE: pilot in command – diverted attention from operation of aircraft miscellaneous acts,conditions – instruments-misread or failed to read FACTORS: weather – low ceiling weather – snow terrain – high obstructions instruments/equipment and accessories – flight and navigation instruments: airspeed miscellaneous acts,conditions – obstructed miscellaneous – foreign material affecting normal operations
Primary Cause
Instrument misreadings and failed readings of airspeed due to low visibility and snow terrain.Instrument misreadings and failed readings of airspeed due to low visibility and snow terrain.Share on:
