NTSB Report: ILS Approach Deviation Due to Instrument Failure

Casualties unknown • Salt Lake City, UT, US

During an instrument landing system approach into Salt Lake City under fog seeding conditions, the aircraft descended below decision height and deviated from course due to faulty gyro horizon and altimeter readings, resulting in gear impact with an antenna structure.

What happened

The first officer was flying the aircraft during an instrument landing system approach to Salt Lake City (SLC). Fog seeding operations were active in the area, creating variable visibility conditions. The approach began with runway visual range well above Category I minimums.

At decision height, the captain called out "lights in sight." However, the first officer continued the descent through decision height. The aircraft re-entered instrument meteorological conditions, prompting the captain to call for a missed approach. The first officer applied power and established a wings-level attitude with a 10-degree nose-up pitch on the gyro horizon while the captain executed checklist items.

The captain then observed that the aircraft was heading 20 degrees right of course with a right-wing-down attitude on his gyro horizon. He called "turn left and pull up." The left main landing gear struck a 45-foot-high ILS antenna stack located 1,049 feet down the runway, 400 feet to the right of the centerline. This impact separated the left main gear. The aircraft diverted to Pocatello (PIH), where additional damage was sustained during landing.

The investigation

Post-accident testing revealed that the first officer's gyro horizon had bad bearings and its "off" flag was inoperative. Additionally, the first officer's altimeter read 100 feet high.

Probable cause

The first officer's failure to maintain proper aircraft attitude during a missed approach due to reliance on faulty flight instruments (gyro horizon and altimeter) while the captain failed to monitor the instruments effectively.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1986-12-16 Swearingen SA227AC accident near Salt Lake City, UT?

During an instrument landing system approach into Salt Lake City under fog seeding conditions, the aircraft descended below decision height and deviated from course due to faulty gyro horizon and altimeter readings, resulting in gear impact with an antenna structure.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1986-12-16 involved a Swearingen SA227AC, registration N164SW, operated by Skywest Airlines, Inc., at Salt Lake City, UT.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The first officer's failure to maintain proper aircraft attitude during a missed approach due to reliance on faulty flight instruments (gyro horizon and altimeter) while the captain failed to monitor the instruments effectively.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X35434. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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