Longview - Little Rock

During arrival, heavy rain showers were reported west of airport. At the airport, the weather was about 200 feet obscured with fog and drizzle, wnd was easterly at 5 to 7 knots. The pilots intended to land on runway 22, but after being told the wind was gusting to 27 knots, they elected to land on runway 04. The actual wind was not gusty. The erroneous gust indication was from a malfunction of the LLWAS. On final approach for an ILS runway 04 approach, the flight was advised the wind was from 030° at 5 knots and the RVR was 1,800 feet. Minimum RVR for the approach was 2,400 feet. The crew acknowledged; 22 seconds later, the ELT activated as the aircraft touched down 1,600 feet short of runway 04 and hit approach lighting system, railroad tracks and a fence. Investigations revealed the aircraft descended thru windshear. While maneuvering onto final approach; ground speed varied between 320 and 190 knots as aircraft was maneuvered thru tailwind to headwind near faf. CVR data verified a delay in descent from 4,000 feet to 1,900 feet before reaching faf and that the gear warning horn sounded before extension of gear and speed brakes. There was evidence of low engine rpm during impact, but no preimpact mechanical problem was found. Each pilot had over 10,000 hours of flight time, but only about 160 hours each in jet aircraft. All seven occupants were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Longview - Little Rock

Aircraft

Gulfstream GII

Registration

N46TE

MSN

243

Year of Manufacture

1979

Operator

Eastman Kodak

Date

January 19, 1990 at 05:10 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Little Rock-Bill & Hillary Clinton Arkansas

Region

North America • United States of America

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On January 19, 1990 at 05:10 PM, Longview - Little Rock experienced a crash involving Gulfstream GII, operated by Eastman Kodak, with the event recorded near Little Rock-Bill & Hillary Clinton Arkansas.

The flight was categorized as executive/corporate/business and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

7 people were known to be on board, 7 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 5, passenger fatalities: 5, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. During arrival, heavy rain showers were reported west of airport. At the airport, the weather was about 200 feet obscured with fog and drizzle, wnd was easterly at 5 to 7 knots. The pilots intended to land on runway 22, but after being told the wind was gusting to 27 knots, they elected to land on runway 04. The actual wind was not gusty. The erroneous gust indication was from a malfunction of the LLWAS. On final approach for an ILS runway 04 approach, the flight was advised the wind was from 030° at 5 knots and the RVR was 1,800 feet. Minimum RVR for the approach was 2,400 feet. The crew acknowledged; 22 seconds later, the ELT activated as the aircraft touched down 1,600 feet short of runway 04 and hit approach lighting system, railroad tracks and a fence. Investigations revealed the aircraft descended thru windshear. While maneuvering onto final approach; ground speed varied between 320 and 190 knots as aircraft was maneuvered thru tailwind to headwind near faf. CVR data verified a delay in descent from 4,000 feet to 1,900 feet before reaching faf and that the gear warning horn sounded before extension of gear and speed brakes. There was evidence of low engine rpm during impact, but no preimpact mechanical problem was found. Each pilot had over 10,000 hours of flight time, but only about 160 hours each in jet aircraft. All seven occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N46TE, MSN 243, year of manufacture 1979.

Fatalities

Total

7

Crew

2

Passengers

5

Other

0

Crash Summary

During arrival, heavy rain showers were reported west of airport. At the airport, the weather was about 200 feet obscured with fog and drizzle, wnd was easterly at 5 to 7 knots. The pilots intended to land on runway 22, but after being told the wind was gusting to 27 knots, they elected to land on runway 04. The actual wind was not gusty. The erroneous gust indication was from a malfunction of the LLWAS. On final approach for an ILS runway 04 approach, the flight was advised the wind was from 030° at 5 knots and the RVR was 1,800 feet. Minimum RVR for the approach was 2,400 feet. The crew acknowledged; 22 seconds later, the ELT activated as the aircraft touched down 1,600 feet short of runway 04 and hit approach lighting system, railroad tracks and a fence. Investigations revealed the aircraft descended thru windshear. While maneuvering onto final approach; ground speed varied between 320 and 190 knots as aircraft was maneuvered thru tailwind to headwind near faf. CVR data verified a delay in descent from 4,000 feet to 1,900 feet before reaching faf and that the gear warning horn sounded before extension of gear and speed brakes. There was evidence of low engine rpm during impact, but no preimpact mechanical problem was found. Each pilot had over 10,000 hours of flight time, but only about 160 hours each in jet aircraft. All seven occupants were killed.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

5

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 7

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Longview - Little Rock

Operator

Eastman Kodak

Flight Type

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Gulfstream GII

Registration

N46TE

MSN

243

Year of Manufacture

1979