ASN Aircraft accident Swearingen SA227-AT Merlin IVC N318DH Beaver Island Airport, MI
ASN logo
 

Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Thursday 8 February 2001
Time:19:20
Type:Silhouette image of generic SW4 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Swearingen SA227-AT Merlin IVC
Operator:Northern Illinois Flight Center
Registration: N318DH
MSN: AT-469
First flight: 1981
Total airframe hrs:7207
Engines: 2 Garrett TPE331-11U-611G
Crew:Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Total:Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 6
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:Beaver Island Airport, MI (   United States of America)
Phase: Approach (APR)
Nature:Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Chicago-Midway Airport, IL (MDW/KMDW), United States of America
Destination airport:Beaver Island Airport, MI (KSJX), United States of America
Narrative:
N318DH departed Chicago-Midway around 17:00 CST for an IFR flight to Beaver Island. The aircraft had been cleared for the NDB or GPS runway 27 instrument approach to Beaver Island Airport when it impacted trees and terrain 1.74 miles and 226 degrees magnetic from the airport.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The flightcrew not maintaining altitude/clearance during the circling instrument approach. Factors were the pilot in command initiating the flight without proper weather reporting facilities at the destination, the flightcrew not flying to an alternate destination, the flightcrew not following company and FAA procedures/directives, the lack of certification of the second pilot, the operator not following company and FAA procedures/directives, and the dark night and the low ceiling."

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: NTSB
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 5 months
Accident number: CHI01FA083
Download report: Summary report

Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Ground

Sources:
» NTSB


Photos

Add your photo of this accident or aircraft

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Chicago-Midway Airport, IL to Beaver Island Airport, MI as the crow flies is 465 km (291 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: languages

Share

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2024 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org