Nihon YS-11A-600 N128MP
15 March 1989 · West Lafayette, Indiana, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 15 March 1989 at about 12:26 local time, a Nihon YS-11A-600 registered N128MP, operated by Mid Pacific Airlines, was involved in an accident near West Lafayette, Indiana, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 12:26
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
- Nearest airport
- Purdue University Airport (LAF)
- Coordinates
- 40.4403, -86.9107
- Aircraft
- Nihon YS-11A-600
- Registration
- N128MP
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Mid Pacific Airlines
- Operating rule
- Part 121: Air Carrier
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Terre Haute → West Lafayette
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Dawn
- NTSB number
- CHI89MA057
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
A LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO THE IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISIONS BY THE CREW AND THE UNDETECTED ACCUMULATION OF ICE ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, DURING FLIGHT IN A FORWARD CENTER OF GRAVITY CONDITION AND EXACERBATED BY THE EXTENSION OF FULL LANDING FLAPS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
AN IFR FLIGHT WAS TERMINATED WITH A VISUAL APPROACH. CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO AIRFRAME ICING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING POSITIONED EMPTY, WITH A CG AT 22.1% MAC. ON SHORT FINAL, AT APPROXIMATELY 400 FT AGL, 35 DEGREES OF LANDING FLAP WAS SELECTED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO PITCH DOWNWARD TO AN UNUSUAL ATTITUDE AND TO ENTER A STEEP DESCENT. A PARTIAL RECOVERY WAS OBSERVED BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A DIRT HILL 500 FT SHORT OF RWY 28. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED 1/2 TO 3/4 INCH OF RIME ICE ADHERING TO THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. NO ICE WAS FOUND ON ANY OTHER PORTION OF THE AIRFRAME. EVIDENCE IN THE COCKPIT INDICATED THAT ENGINE, PITOT, AND WINDSHIELD ANTI-ICE SYSTEMS WERE ON, BUT WING/EMPENNAGE DEICE WAS OFF. NO EVIDENCE OF A POWERPLANT OR SYSTEMS MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Nihon YS-11A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Apr 1990 | Nihon YS-11A-600F | West Lafayette, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Mar 1991 | Nihon YS-11A-600 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Reeve Aleutian Airways, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 10 Apr 1987 | Nihon YS-11A | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Jan 1987 | Nihon YS-11A-500 | Remmington, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Feb 1982 | Nihon YS-11A | King Salmon, Alaska, United States | Reeve Aleutian | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Apr 1981 | Nihon YS-11A | Sand Point, Alaska, United States | Reeve Aleutian Airways, Inc. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Sep 1989 | Beechcraft A36TC | Greencastle, Indiana, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 5 Sep 1989 | Boeing 767-231 | Knox, Indiana, United States | Trans World Airlines Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 Jan 1989 | Piper PA-28-180 | Valparaiso, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Oct 1989 | Bell 47G-2A-1 | Plymouth, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Mar 1989 | Cessna 150L | Sellersburg, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Mar 1989 | Beechcraft 95-B-55 | Crothersville, Indiana, United States | Casebolt, FON | Minor injuries | - |