Embraer EMB-120 N217AS
9 April 1990 · Gadsden, Alabama, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 9 April 1990 at about 23:05 local time, a Embraer EMB-120 registered N217AS, operated by Atlantic Southeast, was involved in an accident near Gadsden, Alabama, United States. 9 people were on board and 2 died. 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 23:05
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Gadsden, Alabama, United States
- Coordinates
- 34.0107, -86.0104
- Aircraft
- Embraer EMB-120
- Registration
- N217AS
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Atlantic Southeast
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Gadsden → Atlanta
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL90FA095
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Probable cause
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT, WHICH RESULTED IN THEIR FAILURE TO SEE-AND-AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE SUN'S GLARE, WHICH RESTRICTED THE VISION OF THE CESSNA 172 PILOT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DRG DEP FM RWY 24 WITH AN IFR CLNC, AN ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST AIRLINE FLT (EMBRAER EMB-120, N217AS) ENTERED A LEFT TURN TO A HDG OF EAST & CLIMBED TO AN ASSIGNED ALT OF 5000' MSL. BEFORE RADAR CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED WITH ATC, THE EMB-120 CONVERGED WITH A CAP CESSNA 172, N99501. THE CESSNA WAS HDG WESTBOUND TOWARD THE SETTING SUN. SUBSEQUENTLY, A HEAD-ON COLLISION OCCURRED ABOUT 2-1/2 MI SOUTH OF THE ARPT. DRG IMPACT, THE RGT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER OF THE EMB-120 SEPD FROM THE ACFT, BUT IT CONTD FLYING TO A SAFE LNDG. THE CESSNA, HOWEVER, ENTERED AN UNCTLD DSCNT & CRASHED. A WITNESS, WHO SAW THE COLLISION, DID NOT NOTE ANY EVASIVE ACTION BY EITHER ACFT BEFORE IMPACT. THE CREW OF THE EMB-120 RPRTD THAT THEY SAW THE CESSNA MOMENTS BEFORE IMPACT. THE CAPT OF THE EMB-120 SAID HE TOOK IMMEDIATE EVASIVE ACTION BY 'PUSHING' THE NOSE DOWN, BUT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. A FLT ATTENDANT ON THE EMB-120 RECALLED A 'THUMP' BEFORE THE ACFT STARTED A DSCNT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embraer EMB-120 EMB-120 | N217AS | Atlantic Southeast | Substantial |
| Cessna 172 172 | N99501 | Civil Air Patrol Inc | Destroyed |
Other Embraer EMB-120 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Aug 1990 | Embraer EMB-120 | College Station, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 1992 | Embraer EMB-120 RT | Denver, Colorado, United States | Mesa Airlines, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 1987 | Embraer EMB-120 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Atlantic Southeast Airlines | No injuries | - |
| 29 Apr 1993 | Embraer EMB-120 RT | Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States | Continental Express | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Jan 1987 | Embraer EMB-120 | Springfield, Missouri, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Dec 1987 | Embraer EMB 120 | Columbus, Mississippi, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Sep 1990 | Helio HST-550A | Mobile, Alabama, United States | Mullins, Howard M. | Serious injuries | - |
| 30 Sep 1990 | Cessna 152 | Dothan, Alabama, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 31 May 1990 | Hughes TH-55 | Brantley, Alabama, United States | State of al ABC Board | Fatal | 1 |
| 1 Aug 1990 | Cessna 150J | Baker Hill, Alabama, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 17 Aug 1990 | Neal CHRISTEN EAGLE II | Akron, Alabama, United States | Moody/Linebarger | Fatal | 2 |
| 12 Apr 1990 | Jolly BAKENG DUCE | Brownsboro, Alabama, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |