British JETSTREAM 3201 N918AE

Summary

On 13 December 1994 at about 23:34 local time, a British JETSTREAM 3201 registered N918AE, operated by Flagship Airlines Inc., was involved in an accident near Morrisville, North Carolina, United States. 20 people were on board and 15 died, 5 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 December 1994 at 23:34

Classification

Accident

Location

Morrisville, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Raleigh-Durham Intl (RDU)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

British JETSTREAM 3201

Registration

N918AE

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Flagship Airlines Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Greensboro → Raleigh

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

DCA95MA006

15 people died.

1) the captain's improper assumption that an engine had failed, and 2) the captain's subsequent failure to follow approved procedures for engine failure, single-engine approach and go-around, and stall recovery. Contributing to the cause of the accident was the failure of AMR Eagle/Flagship management to identify, document, monitor, and remedy deficiencies in pilot performance and training. (NTSB Report AAR-95/07)

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane crashed about 4 miles southwest of the runway 5L threshold during an ILS approach. The captain had associated the illumination of the left engine IGN light, illuminated as a result of a momentary negative torque condition when the propeller speed levers were advanced tp 100% and the power levers were at flight idle, with an engine failure. There was no evidence of an engine failure. The captain failed to follow established procedures for engine failure identification, single engine appoach, single engine go-around, and stall recovery. AMR Eagle training did not adequately address the recognition of engine failure at low power, the aerodynamic effects of asymmetric thrust from a 'windmilling' propeller, and high thrust on the other engine. AMR Eagle and Flagship Airlines crew training records do not provide sufficient detail for management to track performance. Flagship Airlines management was deficient in its knowledge of the types of crew records available, and in the content and use of such records.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.