Narrative:
The crew were cleared for the localizer DME back course approach to runway 36 at Bethel, AK. The airplane collided with the ground on the 186 degree radial from the Bethel VOR. Weather two minutes after the accident included: Wind, 060 degrees (true) at 22 knots, gusts to 28 knots; visibility, 1 statute mile in light snow and mist; clouds and sky condition, 800 feet broken, 3,500 feet overcast; temperature, 25 degrees F; dew point, 22 degrees F; altimeter, 29.21 inHg.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The captain's continued descent below the minimum descent altitude which resulted in impact with terrain during an instrument landing approach. Factors contributing to the accident were the flightcrew's failure to reset the altimeters to the correct altimeter setting, and meteorological conditions consisting of snow obscuration that limited visibility, and the ambient night light conditions."
Wrong altimeter setting
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Ground
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Tuesday 16 October 2001 |
| Time: | 21:30 |
| Type: |  Embraer EMB-120ER Brasilia |
| Operator: | ACE Air Cargo |
| Registration: | N120AX |
| MSN: | 120164 |
| First flight: | 1989 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 26295 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 5,8 km (3.6 mls) S of Bethel Airport, AK (BET) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Anchorage International Airport, AK (ANC/PANC), United States of America |
| Bethel Airport, AK (BET/PABE), United States of America |
The crew were cleared for the localizer DME back course approach to runway 36 at Bethel, AK. The airplane collided with the ground on the 186 degree radial from the Bethel VOR. Weather two minutes after the accident included: Wind, 060 degrees (true) at 22 knots, gusts to 28 knots; visibility, 1 statute mile in light snow and mist; clouds and sky condition, 800 feet broken, 3,500 feet overcast; temperature, 25 degrees F; dew point, 22 degrees F; altimeter, 29.21 inHg.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The captain's continued descent below the minimum descent altitude which resulted in impact with terrain during an instrument landing approach. Factors contributing to the accident were the flightcrew's failure to reset the altimeters to the correct altimeter setting, and meteorological conditions consisting of snow obscuration that limited visibility, and the ambient night light conditions."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Wrong altimeter setting
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Ground
Sources:
» NTSB Id. ANC02LA002Photos
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 Anchorage International Airport, AK to Bethel Airport, AK as the crow flies is 635 km (397 miles).
Distance from Anchorage International Airport, AK to Bethel Airport, AK as the crow flies is 635 km (397 miles).
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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