DHC-8-400 aircraft accident animation, Buffalo, NY Feb. 12, 2009

This three-dimensional (3-D) animated reconstruction shows the last 2 minutes of the February 12, 2009, accident involving a Bombardier DHC-8-400, N200WQ, operated by of Colgan Air, Inc., which crashed about 5 nautical miles northeast of Buffalo-Niagara International Airport, Buffalo, New York, while on an instrument landing system approach to runway 23. During the approach, a pitchup motion occurred, followed by a left roll and then a right roll. During these maneuvers, both the stick shaker and stick pusher were activated, and the speed decreased. After further pitch and roll excursions, the airplane entered a steep descent from which it did not recover.

The animation shows excerpts from the flight data recorder (FDR), the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) transcript, recorded radar data, and aircraft performance data. It does not depict the weather or visibility conditions at the time of the accident. The animation does not include audio.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• aircraft
• accident
• plane
• crash
• N200WQ
• DHC-8
• Buffalo
• NTSB

[mnor1960]

This is a sad reminder of importance of properly training and CRM. Everything went wrong. There was no speed control what so ever. Power was low when landing gear was lowered and condition levers moved forward to max (creating more drag). At stick shaker activation, FP (Flying Pilot) pulled the nose up while he added power. Stick pusher was activated ar approximately 100 kts. Speed went below 80 kts. Then the PNF (Pilot Not Flying) uncommanded retracted the flaps, increasing the stall speed.

[zecjet]

Forgetting the first part. He asked for flaps and gear (drag) and NEVER moved the power levers forward. Then pulled back on the stick pusher, and the FO pulled up the flaps plus ice......

Should have stayed above the ice until closer to approach, shouldn't have been flirting, should have had better training and command of the A/C. SAD. Rest the souls......

[StorRMok]

terrible....

[bethpage89]

He had plenty of altitude.

When he was alerted to the impending stal the plane was flying at a safe altitude--not stalling.

Pushing the nose down where it belonged wouldn't stall the plane.

He could be sure he wouldn't stall again unless he brought the stall on again.

Even after he did stall the plane he had plenty of altitude for a recovery.

On its own the plane almost leveled off after falling 600 feet from 2500' MSL.

[Wallmersbacher]

that was a hard decision for the pilot.

He could have pushed the nose down, but he couldn't be sure if he wouldn't "stall" before he could pull the aircraft up again, after having regained speed.