Fairchild SA-226T N241DT

Summary

On 26 May 1993 at about 03:14 local time, a Fairchild SA-226T registered N241DT, operated by Russ Peacock, was involved in an accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 May 1993 at 03:14

Classification

Accident

Location

Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Santa Fe Municipal (SAF)

Coordinates

35.7401, -105.8590

Aircraft

Fairchild SA-226T

Registration

N241DT

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Russ Peacock

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Albuquerque → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

FTW93FA165

4 people died.

THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED CIRCLING APPROACH, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE DARK NIGHT AND A LACK OF VISUAL REFERENCE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PURPOSE OF THE TRAINING FLIGHT WAS TO CONDUCT PART 135 CHECKRIDES FOR A PILOT-IN=COMMAND AND A SECOND=IN=COMMAND UPON COMPLETION OF THE CREW'S TRAINING. THE CHECKRIDE WAS BEING OBSERVED BY A FAA INSPECTOR SEATED IN THE CABIN. AFTER COMPLETING AN ILS APPROACH TO RWY 2, THE FLIGHT WAS CLEARED TO CIRCLE TO LAND ON RWY 15. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED OVERFLYING RWY 15 AND LINED UP FOR RWY 20. THE TOWER ADVISED THE PILOT THAT HE WAS LINED UP FOR RWY 20, AND WAS GIVEN THE OPTION TO LAND ON EITHER RWY 15 OR RWY 20. THE PILOT OPTED FOR RWY 15 AND WAS CLEARED TO A RIGHT DOWNWIND. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A HILL AT THE 6,870-FT LEVEL NEAR THE CREST, APROX 5 MI WEST OF THE AIRPORT. THE PUBLISHED CIRCLING MDA FOR THE ILS RWY 2 APCH IS 6,860 FT. THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED ABOUT 9 MI FROM THE CITY, AND SEVERAL LOCAL PILOTS REPORTED A TOTAL LACK OF VISUAL REFERENCE IN THAT SEGMENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.