Boeing 727-225 accident at Toledo, Ohio, 10 Apr 1973

Accident narrative

On April 10, 1973, at 1318 eastern standard time, an Eastern Air Lines Boeing 727-225 struck trees while executing an instrument approach to Runway 25 at Toledo Express Airport in Toledo, Ohio. The aircraft, operating as Flight 322, sustained damage limited to the leading edge and trailing edge flaps of the right wing. There were no injuries to the 30 passengers or seven crewmembers aboard.

### The flight

Flight 322 was a scheduled passenger flight from Pensacola, Florida, to Detroit, Michigan, with en route stops in Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Columbus and Toledo, Ohio.

The crew consisted of Captain Thomas A. Woodward, who had accumulated 6,212 flight hours, including 1,400 in the Boeing 727; First Officer James R. Sandusky, with 5,244 flight hours and 1,815 in the 727; and Second Officer William B. Reese, who had experience as a flight engineer, including 1,659 in the 727.

### The approach

The flight was routine until passing the final approach fix inbound at Toledo. With the captain at the controls, the tower advised, "...snow storm is just moving across the approach end of Runway twenty-five, visibility to the east is -- ah -- about a mile and a half." Shortly thereafter, the flight entered the snowshower.

During the descent to the minimum descent altitude (MDA), the first officer announced the 1,000-foot and 600-foot heights above touchdown. However, he did not announce the 500-foot height or the MDA, as required by company procedures. The flight crewmembers later stated they were not aware of the requirement for an MDA callout.

Approaching 400 feet, shortly before emerging from the snowshower, the first officer made visual ground contact. He stated he was looking for the runway when he heard the captain apply power. Noting that the aircraft was still descending and power was increasing, the first officer stated he felt uneasy about the captain not applying power faster and said, "Captain do you see those trees." The captain replied to the effect, "I do now."

The flight data recorder disclosed no decrease in the rate of descent at the MDA; instead, it recorded an increase in the descent rate after the aircraft passed through the MDA. A tower controller saw the aircraft emerge from the snowshower at treetop level in a slightly nosedown attitude and transmitted, "Three twenty two-ah-go-around!" The crew stated they had already initiated the go-around when they received this transmission.

The aircraft struck trees located approximately 6,900 feet from the approach end of Runway 25 and 110 feet to the right of the extended runway centerline. The trees were broken about 40 feet above the ground.

The flight continued the missed approach and accomplished a second approach and landing on Runway 25 without further incident. The captain did not request standby emergency equipment or advise ground personnel of the tree strike. Tower personnel only became aware of the incident after receiving inquiries from a local newspaper that had been contacted by a passenger.

### What the investigation found

The instrument approach to Runway 25 was a localizer back course without a glide slope. The published straight-in minimums were an MDA of 1,040 feet mean sea level (362 feet above touchdown) and three-fourths of a mile visibility.

The aircraft was equipped with five altimeters. Functional testing of all altimeters disclosed no malfunctions, and they were found to be well within allowable tolerances. The Board rejected the possibilities of altimeter malfunction or that the crew had misread or mis-set the instruments. The captain stated he could not explain the reason for the descent below the prescribed altitude.

The Board considered that the descent below the MDA was caused by the failure of the flightcrew to monitor the altimeters adequately during the approach. The Board noted that both pilots may have been intent upon making visual contact with the airport environment as soon as possible to avoid a missed approach, but stated this did not relieve them of the responsibilities consistent with good crew discipline.

### Probable cause

The National Transportation Safety Board determined that "the probable cause of this incident was the failure of the flightcrew to adhere to established procedures, which resulted in a descent below the authorized minimum descent altitude and an impact with the trees."