What happened
On August 26, 2003, Colgan Air operated Flight 9446, a non-revenue repositioning flight for US Airways Express. The aircraft, identified as Beechcraft 1900, departed from Barnstable Municipal Airport in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Shortly after takeoff, the plane deviated from its intended path and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean approximately 300 feet (91 meters) offshore near Yarmouth.
The incident occurred during the initial climb phase of the flight. Emergency responders arrived at the scene, but there were no survivors among those on board. The crash resulted in the deaths of both pilots who were operating the aircraft.
Investigation
Authorities launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Investigators examined the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, along with wreckage recovered from the water. They analyzed weather conditions at the time of the crash, which included low visibility and cloud cover. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted a thorough review of the operational procedures and pilot actions leading up to the impact.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the primary factor contributing to the accident was spatial disorientation experienced by the flight crew. The pilots lost their visual reference to the horizon due to the weather conditions, leading to an uncontrolled descent into the water. This tragic event highlighted the dangers of flying in instrument meteorological conditions without adequate reliance on onboard instruments.