BE20, vicinity Gallatin Field MT USA, 2007
BE20, vicinity Gallatin Field MT USA, 2007
Summary
On February 6, 2007, a Beech 200 King Air, being operated by Metro Aviation on an EMS positioning flight from Great Falls MT to Gallatin Field MT, collided at night in VMC with mountainous terrain approximately 13 nm north-northwest of the intended destination shortly after advising that the airport was in sight and requesting and obtaining permission for a visual approach.
Flight Details
Aircraft
Operator
Type of Flight
Aerial Work
Flight Origin
Intended Destination
Take-off Commenced
Yes
Flight Airborne
Yes
Flight Completed
No
Phase of Flight
Descent
Location
Location - Airport
Airport
CFIT
Tag(s)
Into terrain,
Vertical navigation error,
IFR flight plan
HF
Tag(s)
Ineffective Monitoring,
Manual Handling
Outcome
Damage or injury
Yes
Aircraft damage
Hull loss
Non-aircraft damage
Yes
Non-occupant Casualties
No
Occupant Fatalities
Most or all occupants
Off Airport Landing
Yes
Ditching
Yes
Causal Factor Group(s)
Group(s)
Aircraft Operation
Safety Recommendation(s)
Group(s)
None Made
Investigation Type
Type
Independent
Description
On February 6, 2007, a Beech 200 King Air, being operated by Metro Aviation on an EMS positioning flight from Great Falls MT to Gallatin Field MT collided with mountainous terrain in night VMC shortly after advising that the airport was in sight and requesting and obtaining permission for a visual approach. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Investigation
An Investigation was carried out by the National Transportation Safety Board (USA) (NTSB). It was eastablishd that the aircraft was equipped with TAWS Class 'B' equipment. Impact with terrain was found to have occurred approximately 13 nm north-northwest of the intended destination at a height of just over 700 feet above the elevation of the destination airport.
The Probable Cause of the accident was determined as "the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate altitude and descent rate during a night visual approach" and it was additionally noted that "dark night conditions and mountainous terrain are factors in the accident".
Related Articles
Further Reading
- For more information, see the NTSB Report (SEA07FA051)
- Accident and Serious Incident Reports: CFIT contains details of other accidents and incidents which resulted in, or might have resulted in, a CFIT
