Summary
On May 5, 2017, about 0651 eastern daylight time, Air Cargo Carriers (ACC) flight 1260, a Shorts SD3-30, registration N334AC, crashed during an attempted landing on runway 5 at Charleston Yeager International Airport (CRW), Charleston, West Virginia. The captain and first officer died, and the airplane was destroyed. The flight operated as a scheduled cargo flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 from Louisville International Airport (SDF), Louisville, Kentucky. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.
History of Flight
The flight departed SDF about 0541 on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan and climbed to 9,000 ft. No irregularities were reported during takeoff and en route. The flight crew received ATIS information "November" with the 0554 weather observation: wind 080° at 11 knots, 10 miles visibility, scattered clouds at 700 ft, broken ceiling at 1,300 ft. A special weather observation issued about 0630 indicated an overcast layer at 500 ft and valley fog, but the ATIS was not updated, and the approach controller did not provide it to the flight crew.
About 0637, the first officer contacted the CRW approach controller, who provided the altimeter setting and instructed the flight to expect the localizer approach to runway 5. The first officer instead requested the VOR-A circling approach, which was approved. The controller cleared the flight direct to waypoint HVQ and to descend to 4,000 ft. About 0642, the controller cleared the flight for the VOR-A approach to runway 5. At 0646, the flight contacted the CRW tower, which cleared them to land on runway 5 with wind from 200° at 5 knots.
At 0647:29, when the airplane was at 2,200 ft and about 11 miles from the runway, the tower controller issued a low-altitude alert. The first officer responded that they were descending to 1,600 ft. No further communications occurred. Radar data showed the airplane leveled at 1,600 ft at 0648:25 about 2 miles before FOGAG, then began a descent from 1,600 ft at 0650:18 at 124 knots. The descent rate increased to about 2,500 ft per minute. Security cameras captured the airplane emerging from cloud bases at about 1,600 ft. A ground eyewitness reported the airplane was "hugging the bases."
The airplane crossed the runway 5 centerline in a steep left bank up to 42°. The descent rate reduced to about 600 ft per minute before impact. At 0650:47, the airplane impacted the runway centerline in a 22° left bank and 5° nose-down attitude, at about 92 knots, on a north-northeasterly heading. The left wingtip struck first, followed by the left main landing gear and propeller. The fuselage impacted, the left wing separated, and the airplane slid off the left side of the runway through grass and trees, coming to rest about 380 ft left of the centerline and 85 ft below runway elevation.
Personnel Information
The 47-year-old captain held an airline transport pilot certificate and a first-class medical certificate. He had 4,368.5 total flight hours, with 1,094.1 hours in the SD3-30. He used a CPAP machine for obstructive sleep apnea. He had received a notice of disapproval during his ATP checkride in July 2016 for excessive deflection and failure to initiate a go-around, but passed a reexamination three days later. Historical ATC data showed he descended below MDA in instrument conditions on three VOR-A approaches to CRW between January and April 2017.
The 33-year-old first officer held a commercial pilot certificate with instrument rating and second-in-command privileges in the SD3-30. She had 652.4 total flight hours, with 333.6 hours in the SD3-30. This was her first professional pilot job. She had one notice of disapproval for her commercial pilot certificate in 2015, passing a reexamination nine days later.
The flight crew were permanently paired, first on December 12, 2016. Their 72-hour history showed alternating flights between CRW and SDF with rest periods.
Aircraft Information
The accident airplane was a Short Brothers SD3-30 Variant 200, serial number SH-3029, built in 1979. It was a high-wing, twin-turboprop, originally a 30-passenger airplane. ACC converted it to cargo configuration in December 1998. It was equipped with two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engines and five-blade Hartzell propellers. Before the accident, it had accrued 28,023.2 hours and 36,738 cycles. The takeoff weight was 21,435 lbs, including 3,874 lbs of cargo and 185 gallons of fuel.
Meteorological Information
The 0554 weather observation showed wind from 080° at 11 knots, 10 miles visibility, scattered at 700 ft, broken at 1,300 ft. Between 0625 and 0630, cloud ceilings dropped to 500 ft agl. The 0630 special observation reported overcast at 500 ft, few clouds at 100 ft, and valley fog, with wind from 170° at 4 knots. This observation was not included in the ATIS and was not relayed to the flight crew. The tower controller stated he expected the weather to change and chose not to update the ATIS. An observation at 0654 reported wind from 230° at 3 knots, few clouds at 100 ft, overcast at 500 ft.
Aids to Navigation
The VOR-A approach had a minimum descent altitude of 1,600 ft msl and 1-mile visibility after crossing FOGAG. The localizer to runway 5 was in service; the glideslope and visual approach slope indicator were out of service.
Airport Information
CRW is located about 3 miles east of Charleston at elevation 946 ft. Runway 5/23 is 6,802 ft long and 150 ft wide with a 578-ft displaced threshold.
Flight Recorders
The airplane was not equipped with a cockpit voice recorder or flight data recorder, nor required to be. Personal electronic devices recovered did not contain relevant data.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The first ground scar was on the runway centerline about 330 ft from the displaced threshold. The wreckage trail led left off the runway. The left wing and engine separated; the main wreckage was 380 ft left of the centerline, 85 ft below the runway in wooded terrain. There was no fire. Flight control continuity was confirmed, with fractures consistent with overload. The flight deck was damaged; power levers were at "Flight Idle," fuel levers at "Ground," left propeller lever aft, right propeller lever full forward, flaps at 35°. Both control wheels were jammed in a full-right-turn position. The left propeller separated; blades showed leading-edge damage. The right propeller blades exhibited aft bending.
Medical and Pathological Information
Autopsies determined the cause of death for both crewmembers was multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicological tests were negative for ethanol and a wide range of drugs.
Tests and Research
Examination of the propellers suggested they were rotating under power in a low-to-windmilling thrust condition at impact. Propeller speed was estimated at about 1,400 rpm, within a typical range for approach with power levers at Flight Idle and propeller levers full forward. A review of 17 previous landings at CRW showed final approach segments for runway 23 landings lasting 12 to 39 seconds, compared to 75 seconds per standard operating procedures.
Organizational Information
ACC operated as a Part 135 cargo airline based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a fleet of 2 SD3-30 and 16 SD3-60 aircraft. It employed 38 pilots. Crew assignments were base-specific with permanent pairings; there was no formal rotation schedule.