Narrative:
The crew had been cleared to descend to and maintain 7500 feet and turn right heading 040deg. This was the last contact with the flight. It was later found to have flown into terrain in a level attitude with a speed of over 200 knots. The co-pilot's autopsy revealed that the trachaem bronchi and lungs contained aspirated gastric contents.
PROBABLE CAUSE:
altitude .. inattentive .. pilot in command
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:
light condition .. dark night
diverted attention .. pilot in command
physical impairment .. copilot/second pilot
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Tuesday 7 December 1982 |
| Time: | 19:07 |
| Type: |  Swearingen SA227-AC Metro III |
| Operator: | Pioneer Airlines |
| Registration: | N30093 |
| MSN: | AC-449 |
| First flight: | 1981 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2269 |
| Engines: | 2 Garrett TPE331 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 32 km (20 mls) SSW of Pueblo Memorial Airport, CO (PUB) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Santa Fe Airport, NM (SAF/KSAF), United States of America |
| Pueblo Memorial Airport, CO (PUB/KPUB), United States of America |
The crew had been cleared to descend to and maintain 7500 feet and turn right heading 040deg. This was the last contact with the flight. It was later found to have flown into terrain in a level attitude with a speed of over 200 knots. The co-pilot's autopsy revealed that the trachaem bronchi and lungs contained aspirated gastric contents.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE:
altitude .. inattentive .. pilot in command
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:
light condition .. dark night
diverted attention .. pilot in command
physical impairment .. copilot/second pilot
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
» NTSBPhotos
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 Santa Fe Airport, NM to Pueblo Memorial Airport, CO as the crow flies is 327 km (204 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.
Distance from Santa Fe Airport, NM to Pueblo Memorial Airport, CO as the crow flies is 327 km (204 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.
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.
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