USAir Flight 499
Encyclopedia
US Airways
Flight 499 was scheduled to be flown from Toronto, Ontario to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, with a scheduled stop en route in Erie, Pennsylvania
, on February 21, 1986. The National Transportation Safety Board
(NTSB) later reported that in Toronto, before takeoff, the flight crew discussed the weather reports, and the captain commented that the weather conditions were "not too good". However, the crew decided to proceed with the flight anyway, and determined that their fuel supply was adequate to complete the flight for the weather conditions in Erie. At 4:00 a.m. EST
, at Erie International Airport
, a snowplow operator had begun to clear the runways, including Runway 06-24, the runway that Flight 499 was scheduled to land on. The operator subsequently stated that the snow was "wet". At 5:45 a.m. EST, filing the first Field Condition Report of the day, he stated that braking conditions were poor. Around 35 minutes later, at 6:20 a.m. EST, after filing the first Field Condition Report, the snowplow operator stopped plowing, anticipating the arrival of Flight 499. He later checked braking conditions on the runway again, at 7:15 a.m. EST, using a James Brake Decelerometer installed in a pickup truck
, and reported that braking conditions were fair to poor. At around 7:45 a.m. EST, a Beechcraft King Air
landed on the runway
, and reported to air traffic control
that braking action was poor. The King Air pilot observed that there was 1–2 inches of snow on the runway, with no visible bare spots on the runway. Due to visibility
and tailwind
concerns, Erie Operations directed the dispatcher to advise Flight 499 to proceed to Pittsburgh without stopping at Erie.
However, after further discussion, the dispatcher advised Erie Operations to report to Flight 499, and tell them to make one approach, and if that approach was unsuccessful, then proceed to Pittsburgh. At 8:59 a.m. EST, Flight 499 attempted to land on Runway 24 at Erie International Airport. However, the NTSB reported that, although the touchdown was steady, the autospoilers failed to deploy. It was later confirmed that the captain attempted to deploy the autospoilers manually. The airplane started to drift slowly to the left, and eventually slid off the runway. The NTSB later reported that the airplane ran over a runway end identifier light, struck a chain-link fence
, and finally came to a halt about 180 feet away from and 20 feet below the runway's end. The aircraft slid across Asbury Road and up the embankment on the other side. One passenger was reported to have bumped her head during the overrun, but there were no other injuries reported. Witnesses of the crash reported crew members attempting to remove or cover the US AIR logos from the exterior of the aircraft.
The NTSB discovered that USAir policy prohibits landing at Runway 24 at Erie International Airport while there is any tailwind. The NTSB also reported that the dispatcher fulfilled his duties. After investigating the case, the NTSB reported that the cause of the crash was due to an improper planning and decision on the part of the pilot-in-command, referring to the decision to land at the airport despite reports. It also reported that a go-around
was not performed by the pilot-in-command, another reason it lists as a probable cause of the accident.
US Airways
US Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
Flight 499 was scheduled to be flown from Toronto, Ontario to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, with a scheduled stop en route in Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
, on February 21, 1986. The National Transportation Safety Board
National Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation. In this role, the NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and incidents, certain types of highway crashes, ship and marine...
(NTSB) later reported that in Toronto, before takeoff, the flight crew discussed the weather reports, and the captain commented that the weather conditions were "not too good". However, the crew decided to proceed with the flight anyway, and determined that their fuel supply was adequate to complete the flight for the weather conditions in Erie. At 4:00 a.m. EST
North American Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
, at Erie International Airport
Erie International Airport
Erie International Airport / Tom Ridge Field is a public airport serving northwestern Pennsylvania and is located five miles southwest of the central business district of Erie, a city in Erie County. It features commercial service by regional airlines, connecting passengers to hubs in the...
, a snowplow operator had begun to clear the runways, including Runway 06-24, the runway that Flight 499 was scheduled to land on. The operator subsequently stated that the snow was "wet". At 5:45 a.m. EST, filing the first Field Condition Report of the day, he stated that braking conditions were poor. Around 35 minutes later, at 6:20 a.m. EST, after filing the first Field Condition Report, the snowplow operator stopped plowing, anticipating the arrival of Flight 499. He later checked braking conditions on the runway again, at 7:15 a.m. EST, using a James Brake Decelerometer installed in a pickup truck
Pickup truck
A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...
, and reported that braking conditions were fair to poor. At around 7:45 a.m. EST, a Beechcraft King Air
Beechcraft King Air
The Beechcraft King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation...
landed on the runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
, and reported to air traffic control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
that braking action was poor. The King Air pilot observed that there was 1–2 inches of snow on the runway, with no visible bare spots on the runway. Due to visibility
Visibility
In meteorology, visibility is a measure of the distance at which an object or light can be clearly discerned. It is reported within surface weather observations and METAR code either in meters or statute miles, depending upon the country. Visibility affects all forms of traffic: roads, sailing...
and tailwind
Tailwind
A tailwind is a wind that blows in the direction of travel of an object, while a headwind blows against the direction of travel. A tailwind increases the object's speed and reduces the time required to reach its destination, while a headwind has the opposite effect...
concerns, Erie Operations directed the dispatcher to advise Flight 499 to proceed to Pittsburgh without stopping at Erie.
However, after further discussion, the dispatcher advised Erie Operations to report to Flight 499, and tell them to make one approach, and if that approach was unsuccessful, then proceed to Pittsburgh. At 8:59 a.m. EST, Flight 499 attempted to land on Runway 24 at Erie International Airport. However, the NTSB reported that, although the touchdown was steady, the autospoilers failed to deploy. It was later confirmed that the captain attempted to deploy the autospoilers manually. The airplane started to drift slowly to the left, and eventually slid off the runway. The NTSB later reported that the airplane ran over a runway end identifier light, struck a chain-link fence
Fence
A fence is a freestanding structure designed to restrict or prevent movement across a boundary. It is generally distinguished from a wall by the lightness of its construction: a wall is usually restricted to such barriers made from solid brick or concrete, blocking vision as well as passage .Fences...
, and finally came to a halt about 180 feet away from and 20 feet below the runway's end. The aircraft slid across Asbury Road and up the embankment on the other side. One passenger was reported to have bumped her head during the overrun, but there were no other injuries reported. Witnesses of the crash reported crew members attempting to remove or cover the US AIR logos from the exterior of the aircraft.
The NTSB discovered that USAir policy prohibits landing at Runway 24 at Erie International Airport while there is any tailwind. The NTSB also reported that the dispatcher fulfilled his duties. After investigating the case, the NTSB reported that the cause of the crash was due to an improper planning and decision on the part of the pilot-in-command, referring to the decision to land at the airport despite reports. It also reported that a go-around
Go-around
A go-around is an aborted landing of an aircraft that is on final approach.- Origin of the term :The term arises from the traditional use of traffic patterns at airfields. A landing aircraft will first join the circuit pattern and prepare for landing in an orderly fashion...
was not performed by the pilot-in-command, another reason it lists as a probable cause of the accident.