WPCNR WESTCHESTER WINGS. From National Transportation Safety Board. April 30, 2005: The National Transportation Safety Board has issued its Preliminary Report on the fatal crash of a Cessna single engine aircraft April 23 on final approach to Westchester County Airport.
The report confirms that the Cessna was below the minimum altitude on its final instrument approach. Here is that report:
On April 23, 2005, about 1517 (3:17 P.M.) Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 172R, was destroyed when it impacted terrain in Armonk, New York; while on approach to the Westchester County Airport (HPN), White Plains, New York. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Albany International Airport (ALB), Albany, New York. The instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The airplane was based at (White Plains) HPN, and operated by a flight school.
According to initial information obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot and student pilot departed HPN, at 1209, under an IFR flight plan, and flew to ALB (Albany). They then departed ALB at 1348, to return to HPN (White Plains). According to the respective flight plans, the flights were for the purpose of “IFR training.”
At 1513:45, (3:13 P.M. E.D.T.)the airplane was on the ILS (Instrument Landing System) Runway 16 approach, when the pilot contacted the HPN air traffic control tower. The airplane was cleared to land at 1514:15. The controller also informed the accident pilot that the pilot of a landing Cessna Citation (land previously) reported that he “broke out” at 200 feet.
At 1517:25, the controller observed the airplane’s radar target at 900 feet. He then issued the pilot a low altitude alert and provided the current altimeter setting. The pilot acknowledged the transmission, read back the altimeter setting, and reported that he was at an altitude of 800 feet.
There were no further communications from the pilot, and the airplane’s last radar target was observed at 1517:39, at an altitude of 600 feet.
The airplane impacted trees and came to rest in a wooded area, about 1 mile from the approach end of runway 16. The terrain around the accident site sloped upward from the Kensico Reservoir, and contained trees that were about 75 feet tall. A debris path, which measured about 150 feet long, and was oriented on a magnetic course of about 145 degrees extended from a freshly broken tree. All major portions of the airplane were located at the accident site.
Flight control continuity was confirmed from the rudder and elevator control surfaces to the forward cockpit area. In addition, both the left and right aileron cables remained attached to their respective control surfaces, and were intact up to their respective wing separation. Examination of the flap actuator jackscrew corresponded with a retracted flap setting.
Review of maintenance records revealed that the airplane was inspected in accordance with a 100 hour inspection on April 18, 2005.
The CFI reported 168 hours of total flight experience on his most recent application for an FAA second class medical certificate, which was issued on March 7, 2003. According to the flight school, at the time of the accident, the CFI had accumulated about 900 hours, and the student pilot had accumulated 31.9 hours of total flight experience.
The Westchester County Airport was located at a field elevation of 439 feet. A weather observation taken at the airport, at 1456, reported: wind from 190 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 16 knots; visibility 1/2 statue mile in fog; ceiling 200 feet overcast; temperature and dew point both 12 degrees C; altimeter 29.51 in/hg.
