Allegheny Airlines Flight 736: Convair CV-580 Crash at Bradford Regional Airport (N5802)

Flight Details and Approach Sequence Allegheny Airlines Flight 736 was operating a Convair CV-580 on a scheduled flight from Detroit, Michigan, to Washington, D.C., with intermediate stops at Erie, Bradford, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The aircraft departed Erie at 19:46. At 20:06, the flight reported over the VOR outbound at the beginning of the instrument approach procedure. Erie Approach Control then instructed the crew to contact the Bradford Flight Service Station (FSS). At 20:08:47, the flight reported that it was executing the procedure turn inbound for runway 32. Bradford FSS provided wind information of 290 degrees at 15 knots. ## Accident Sequence The Convair descended in light snow showers until it contacted trees along terrain with an average upslope of 1.5 degrees, approximately 2.5 nautical miles short of the runway. The aircraft cut a swath through the trees and impacted the ground 800 feet from the initial tree contact. The fuselage came to rest inverted. ## Probable Cause and Contributing Factors The official investigation determined that the probable cause was the continuation of the descent from the final approach fix through the Minimum Descent Altitude and into obstructing terrain at a time when both flight crewmembers were looking outside the aircraft in an attempt to establish visual reference to the ground. Contributing factors included the minimal visual references available at night on the approaches to Bradford Regional Airport, a small but critical navigational error during the later stages of the approach, and a rapid change in visibility conditions that was not known to the crew.