13 fatal · British Aerospace Jetstream 32 · 2004-10-20 · Kirksville, MO, USA
Event
NTSB number
DCA05MA004
Event ID
20041020X01659
Type
Accident
Date
2004-10-20
Location
Kirksville, MO, USA
Coordinates
40.190479, -92.570533
Injuries
Highest injury
FATL
Fatal
13
Serious
2
Minor
0
Uninjured
0
Total aboard
15
Aircraft
Make
British Aerospace
Model
Jetstream 32
Registration
N875JX
FAR Part
121
Engines
2
Damage
DEST
Conditions
Light
NDRK
Weather
IMC
Probable cause
the pilots' failure to follow established procedures and properly conduct a nonprecision instrument approach at night in IMC, including their descent below the minimum descent altitude (MDA) before required visual cues were available (which continued unmoderated until the airplane struck the trees) and their failure to adhere to the established division of duties between the flying and nonflying (monitoring) pilot. Contributing to the accident was the pilots' failure to make standard callouts and the current Federal Aviation Regulations that allow pilots to descend below the MDA into a region in which safe obstacle clearance is not assured based upon seeing only the airport approach lights. The pilots' unprofessional behavior during the flight and their fatigue likely contributed to their degraded performance. .