Saab-Scania Ab (Saab) 340A N342PX

Summary

On 3 January 1993 at about 01:42 local time, a Saab-Scania Ab (Saab) 340A registered N342PX, operated by Express I, was involved in an accident near Hibbing, Minnesota, United States. 31 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 January 1993 at 01:42

Classification

Accident

Location

Hibbing, Minnesota, United States

Nearest airport

Hibbing-Chisholm (HIB)

Coordinates

47.3993, -92.9398

Aircraft

Saab-Scania Ab (Saab) 340A

Registration

N342PX

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Express I

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Minneapolis → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CHI93MA061

Nobody was injured.

THE FIRST OFFICER'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER DESCENT RATE DURING THE LANDING, AND THE CAPTAIN'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY NOT TAKING TIMELY ACTION TO ENSURE A SAFE LANDING. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE COMPANY'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE TRAINING ON THE AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS AND/OR HANDLING TECHNIQUES UNDER CONDITIONS OF WING ICE CONTAMINATION, THE COMPANY'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT BOTH PILOTS HAD RECEIVED THE CURRENT CREW RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (CRM) TRAINING, AND THE EXISTING WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCUMULATION OF ICE ON THE AIRPLANE'S WING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING THE APPROACH, THE 1ST OFFICER (FO) ASKED THE CAPT IF HE WANTED TO '...POP THE BOOTS?' TO REMOVE ICE OFF THE WINGS. THE CAPT RESPONDED '...IT'S GOING TO THE HANGAR. I'LL RUN'EM ON THE GROUND...' THE FO RETARDED POWER OVER THE THRESHOLD & THE SINK RATE INCREASED; THE CAPT OBSERVED 900 FPM. THE FO APPLIED ADDITIONAL BACK PRESSURE ON THE YOKE, BUT IT WAS INADEQUATE TO ARREST THE HIGH SINK RATE. ADDITIONAL BACK PRESSURE WAS APPLIED, AND THE STALL HORN SOUNDED FOLLOWED SHORTLY THEREAFTER BY THE CAPT STATING 'I GOT IT.' DURING THE HARD LANDING THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR BROKE, THE FUEL TANK RUPTURED, AND THE RIGHT WING REAR SPAR BENT UPWARD. APRX 18 HRS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, 3/16 INCH OF RIME MIXED WITH CLEAR ICE WAS OBSERVED ON THE LEADING EDGES OF THE WING, HORIZ STAB, AND VERT STAB. THE ICE HAD FINGER-LIKE PROTRUSIONS POSITIONED VERTICALLY TO THE WING SURFACES. THE COMPANY'S LINE OPS MANUAL DOES NOT DISCUSS FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS OR LANDING TECHNIQUES SPECIFIC TO WING ICE. NEITHER PILOT HAD RECEIVED COMPANY'S CURRENT CRM TRAINING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.