Embraer EMB-120 RT N24706

Summary

On 29 April 1993 at about 20:55 local time, a Embraer EMB-120 RT registered N24706, operated by Continental Express, was involved in an accident near Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States. 30 people were on board and 13 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 April 1993 at 20:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Grider Field (PBF)

Coordinates

34.2099, -92.0107

Aircraft

Embraer EMB-120 RT

Registration

N24706

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Continental Express

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Little Rock → Houston

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW93MA143

13 people had minor injuries.

THE CAPTAIN'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROFESSIONAL COCKPIT DISCIPLINE, HIS CONSEQUENT INATTENTION TO FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS AND ICE ACCRETION, AND HIS SELECTION OF AN IMPROPER AUTOFLIGHT VERTICAL MODE, ALL OF WHICH LED TO AN AERODYNAMIC STALL, LOSS OF CONTROL, AND A FORCED LANDING. FACTORS CONTIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: POOR CREW DISCIPLINE, INCLUDING FLIGHTCREW COORDINATION BEFORE THE STALL AND THE FLIGHTCREW'S INAPPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO RECOVER FROM THE LOSS OF CONTROL. ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS FATIGUE INDUCED BY THE FLIGHTCREW'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY MANAGE PROVIDED REST PERIODS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

IN CLIMB, CAPTAIN (PIC) INCREASED PITCH, WHEN FLIGHT ATTENDANT (F/A) ENTERED COCKPIT & SUGGESTED FASTER CLIMB, SO SHE COULD BEGIN CABIN SERVICE. AUTOFLIGHT WAS SET IN PITCH & HEADING MODES, CONTRARY TO COMPANY POLICY. PIC & F/A HAD NON- PERTINENT CONVERSATION FOR 4.5 MIN, WHILE 1ST OFFICER (F/O) WAS MAKING LOG ENTRIES. AIRPLANE STALLED IN IMC AT 17,400'. INITIAL RECOVERY WAS AT 6700' AFTER F/O LOWER GEAR, THEN DUE TO IMPROPER RECOVERY, 2ND STALL OCCURRED & RECOVERY WAS AT 5500'. LEFT PROPELLER SHED 3 BLADES, LEFT ENGINE COWLING SEPARATED, LEFT ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN IN DESCENT. LEVEL FLIGHT COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED & FORCED LANDING WAS MADE AT CLOSED AIRPORT. PIC OVERSHOT FINAL TURN DUE TO CONTROLLABILITY PROBLEMS & LANDED FAST WITH 1880' OF WET RUNWAY REMAINING. AIRPLANE HYDROPLANED OFF RUNWAY & WAS FURTHER DAMAGED. CREW GOT LIMITED SLEEP DURING 3 DAY TRIP, THOUGH REST PERIODS AVAILABLE. FREEZING LEVEL NEAR 11,500', CLOUDS TOPS TO 21,000' WITH POTENTIAL FOR ICING TO 19,000'. NO PRE-ACCIDENT MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. (SEE NTSB SUMMARY RPRT: NTSB/AAR-94/02/SUM)

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.