Fairchild SA227-AC N2721M
15 January 1990 · Elko, Nevada, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 15 January 1990 at about 18:28 local time, a Fairchild SA227-AC registered N2721M, operated by Skywest Airlines, was involved in an accident near Elko, Nevada, United States. 16 people were on board and 4 were seriously injured, 9 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:28
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Elko, Nevada, United States
- Nearest airport
- Elko Muni/Jc Harris Field (EKO)
- Coordinates
- 40.9497, -115.7900
- Aircraft
- Fairchild SA227-AC
- Registration
- N2721M
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Skywest Airlines
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Salt Lake City → Elko
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN90FA042
People
4 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 3 |
Probable cause
IMPROPER IFR PROCEDURE BY THE CAPTAIN, AND INADEQUATE MONITORING OF THE APPROACH BY THE FIRST OFFICER, WHICH RESULTED IN A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE DURING THE APPROACH. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE TERRAIN AND WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING ARRIVAL, THE FLT CREW OF SKYWEST AIRLINES FLT 5855 REQUESTED A VOR/DME-B APCH TO THE ELKO ARPT, WHICH WAS APPROVED. AS THE APCH CONTINUED, THE FLT CREW RPRTD OVER THE BULLION VOR. APRX 30 SEC LATER, THE ACFT CRASHED. IMPACT OCCURRED AT THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN, ABOUT 100' BEFORE REACHING THE VOR STATION. ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 6460 FT; MIN PUBLISHED CROSSING ALT AT THE VOR WAS 7000 FT. THE ARPT WAS 4.1 MI FROM THE VOR AT AN ELEVATION OF 5135 FT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Fairchild SA227 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1990 | Fairchild SA227-AC | Covington, Kentucky, United States | Comair, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 23 May 1990 | Fairchild SA227 | Olympia, Washington, United States | Horizon Airlines | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Jun 1991 | Fairchild SA227-AC | Visalia, California, United States | Wings West Airlines Inc | No injuries | - |
| 7 Sep 1989 | Fairchild SA227-AC | Los Angeles, California, United States | Skywest Airlines | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jul 1988 | Fairchild SA227-AT | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Peninsula Airways | No injuries | - |
| 20 Feb 1988 | Fairchild SA227-AC | Cary, North Carolina, United States | Avair, Inc. | Fatal | 12 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jan 1990 | Cessna 172A | Reno, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Mar 1990 | Cessna 150 | Valmy, Nevada, United States | Arthur H. MC Ewen | Serious injuries | - |
| 26 Nov 1990 | Cessna 172 | Tonopah, Nevada, United States | Double Eagle Aviation Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 23 Mar 1990 | Piper PA18-160 | Reno, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Dec 1990 | Cessna 172L | McDermitt, Nevada, United States | Benjaman, James A. | No injuries | - |
| 20 Apr 1990 | Cessna 172N | Minden, Nevada, United States | Mercury Air Center | Minor injuries | - |