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Crash of a Beechcraft C90 King Air in Columbia

Date & Time: Jan 27, 2014 at 0530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N350WA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sacramento - Columbia
MSN:
LJ-762
YOM:
1978
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2939
Captain / Total hours on type:
1784.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6658
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2237
Aircraft flight hours:
9501
Circumstances:
The commercial pilot, who was the pilot flying (PF), and the airplane transport pilot, who was the pilot not flying (PNF), were conducting an aeromedical positioning flight. The pilots reported that, during a night approach, they visually identified the airport, activated the runway lighting system, and then canceled the instrument flight plan for a visual approach. The PNF reported that, after turning onto the final approach, the flaps were fully lowered and that the airplane was in a “wings level, stabilized approach.” The PF reported that he was initially using the vertical approach slope indicator (VASI) for guidance but that the airplane drifted below the glidepath during the approach, and he did not correct back to the glidepath. On short final, the pilots verified that the landing gear were in the down-and-locked position by noting the illumination of the three green landing gear indicator lights, and the airspeed indicator indicated 110 knots. Both pilots reported that the landing was “firm” and that it was followed by a loud bang and the subsequent failure of all three landing gear. The airplane slid on its belly for about 825 ft down the runway before coming to rest. Both pilots evacuated the airplane, which was subsequently consumed by a postaccident fire. Both pilots reported that the airplane was operating normally with no discrepancies noted. Postaccident examination of the wreckage at the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted the runway about 100 ft short of its displaced threshold. Broken components of the landing gear were located along the debris field, which extended about 565 ft beyond the initial impact point. It is likely that the PF's failure to correct and maintain the VASI glidepath after allowing the airplane to descend below the glidepath and the touchdown at a high descent rate resulted in a hard landing and the subsequent failure of all three landing gear.
Probable cause:
The pilot’s unstabilized night visual approach, which resulted in a hard landing and the collapse of all three landing gear.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman TS-2A Tracker in Columbia: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1993
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N427DF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
550
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
Tanker 92
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was fighting a forest fire in the region of Columbia, California. The aircraft made a stable and level approach to the drop zone. After the retardant was dropped on fire, the pilot initiated a climb when the aircraft impacted trees, rolled to the left and crashed in an inverted position. The pilot was killed.

Crash of a Grumman TS-2F Tracker in Columbia: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1992 at 1613 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N451DF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Columbia - Columbia
MSN:
548
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
Tanker 92
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Columbia Airport on a fire fighting mission. After the retardant was dropped on the fire zone, the pilot increased engine power to gain height when the aircraft, flying in reduced visibility due to smoke, collided with trees. It rolled to the left and crashed inverted, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot was approaching the fire area at an insufficient altitude according to the published procedures of the operator. The pilot's field of vision was probably reduced by the presence of smoke and that when starting the resource, the pilot failed to see the trees struck by the airplane a few seconds later. Despite the fact that no technical failure was found on the aircraft, this assumption was not ruled out.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina in Columbia: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1970 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6459C
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Columbia - Columbia
MSN:
2017
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
13532
Captain / Total hours on type:
1202.00
Circumstances:
Following a firefighting mission, the crew was returning to Columbia Airport when, on final approach, the airplane was too low and struck a rocky wall located about 252 feet short of runway threshold. The airplane crashed and was destroyed. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew misjudged the distance, speed and altitude on final approach, causing the aircraft to struck the ground and to crash. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Downwind,
- High temperature,
- Terrain,
- The crew made a 360 turn at low altitude,
- Hit granite boulders 252 feet short of runway, five feet below the runway.
Final Report: