Fairchild Swearingen SA-227AC N3044J
23 April 1989 · New York, New York, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 23 April 1989 at about 21:01 local time, a Fairchild Swearingen SA-227AC registered N3044J, operated by Pocono Airlines, was involved in an incident near New York, New York, United States. 241 people were on board and nobody was injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:01
- Classification
- Incident
- Location
- New York, New York, United States
- Nearest airport
- John F Kennedy (JFK)
- Coordinates
- 40.6503, -73.7904
- Aircraft
- Fairchild Swearingen SA-227AC
- Registration
- N3044J
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Pocono Airlines
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Providence → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Not recorded
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC89IA123
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 241 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 241 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE SWEARINGEN FLIGHT CREW TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY THE AIRPLANE THEY WERE TO FOLLOW, PRIOR TO ACCEPTING THE VISUAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 31R.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
TWO 747S WERE ON APPROACH FOR RWY 31R, FOLLOWED BY A SWEARINGEN SA 227AC MERLIN. THE MERLIN WAS GIVEN A VISUAL APPROACH WHICH THE PILOT ACCEPTED AND TRAFFIC HE WAS TO FOLLOW WAS CALLED AS BEING AT THE 11 O'CLOCK POSITION. RADAR DATA SHOWED THE FIRST 747 ONLY 10 DEGREES TO THE LEFT OF THE NOSE OF THE MERLIN WHICH THE FLIGHT CREW IDENTIFIED AS THE TRAFFIC TO FOLLOW. THE SECOND 747 WHICH WAS THE ONE TO BE FOLLOWED WAS 45 DEGREES TO THE LEFT OF THE NOSE. THE MERLIN PASSED APPROXIMATELY 300 FT OVER THE TOP OF THE 2ND 747 IN THE VICINITY OF THE OUTER MARKER WHILE ON THE VISUAL APPROACH. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN. THE CAPTAIN OF THE MERLIN SAID HE NORMALLY FLYS 1 TO 1 1/2 DOTS HIGH ON THE GLIDE SLOPE FOR WAKE TURBULENCE. THE SUN WAS AT AN ANGLE THAT BACKLIGHTED BOTH 747S.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairchild Swearingen SA-227AC SA-227AC | N3044J | Pocono Airlines | - |
| Boeing 747-284B 747-284B | N305TW | - | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul 1989 | Cessna 185 | Fishers, New York, United States | Paul V. Hyland | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jul 1989 | Cessna 152 | Plattsburgh, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Jul 1989 | Cessna 177A | Akron, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Jul 1989 | Cessna 152 | Oneida, New York, United States | BFB Associates | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 1989 | Piper PA-28-160 | Hammond, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 1989 | Cessna 182A | Lancaster, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |