Double-fatal crash of IAI Westwind 1124 (Yukon, Oklahoma)
YUKON, OKLAHOMA â On March 18, 2019, at 1531 central daylight time, an Israel Aircraft Industries Westwind 1124, registration N4MH, impacted terrain near the east side of runway 18 at Sundance Airport (HSD), Yukon, Oklahoma. As the airplane approached the approach-end of runway 18, it began to climb, rolled left, and became inverted before impacting terrain. The airplane was destroyed. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries.
The airplane was registered to and operated by Sundance Airport FBO LLC under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight was operating on an instrument rules flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight departed from Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), Panama City, Florida and was destined to HSD.
The airplane was located about 1,472 feet down and 209 feet east of runway 18. The landing gear and wing flaps were extended. The left thrust reverser was unlatched and open and the right thrust reverser was closed and latched. The thrust reverser controls were in the stowed position; the aircraft was not equipped with a nose landing gear ground contact switch to preclude in-flight operation of the thrust reversers. A 1977 IAI Service Letter provided instructions for the removal of the nose gear contact switch, at the aircraft owner’s discretion.
Electrical testing of the thrust reverser left and right stow micro-switches within the cockpit throttle quadrant revealed the left stow switch did not operate within design specifications. Disassembly of the left and right stow switch revealed evidence of arc wear due to aging.
The chief pilot for N4MH had reported a thrust reverser problem several weeks prior to the accident of N4MH to a fellow mechanic who held an inspection authorization, was a mechanic at Tinker Air Force Base, and worked as a mechanic at a warbird museum in Oklahoma City.
It was also reported that there had been an uncommanded thrust reverser deployment in N4MH during a night taxi in Florida. Mark Jernigan, who served as second-in-command in N4MH, had reportedly witnessed “issues” with the thrust reversers.
The left seat pilot was unbuckled except for one strap that was connected to the unguarded rotary buckle. The unbuckled straps were not torn, and the unbuckled strap metal latches were not deformed or torn through. Testing of the buckle was performed by holding two straps inserted into the buckle and striking the buckle’s backside against a concrete floor. After several strikes, one of the belts became unlatched from the buckle.
The airplane was equipped with a cockpit voice recorder (CVR); however, the accident flight was not recorded. The audio on the CVR indicated the last events recorded were from 2007.
Investigatory material from this accident and related material from another Westwind accident can be found at https://rwp.yt/iai.
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no fire……..strange…
they never fixed it when they were supposed to.
Terrible tragedy.
Money over people lives.
This pilot had taken 5 different sedatives! Who the hell flies an airplane with that much need to be doped up?
So very sad. It staggers my mind that such a serious issue was essentially ignored despite two recent verbal reports of problems with the TR which apparently went no further, and before that two known TR incidents at FS, on top of a history of uncommanded TR deployment/piggy back leaving the detent on Westwinds that is taught by FS. The report states evidence of arc wear in the thrust reversers stow switches and that the left stow didnât operate within specs, which indicates to me that the system was not inspected/maintained despite awareness of a recent problem. Sounds very much like a culture of complacency with an obvious design flaw had developed within the school and Westwind community. Regardless, my prayers to those lost. Rest easy, aviators.
The crash report shown isn't even related to this aircraft! ???
Kamera von 1950?
No CVR use since 2007.
Olha ae, saiu um monte de gente pra ajudar pq nessas horas qnto mais råpido a ajuda mais chance de sair alguém com vida
I was at Ramstein AB during the first Gulf War when a C-5 crashed on take off due to the #1 engine T/R deploying. It lost altitude, went into some trees, and then cartwheeled across a field near the west gate. Everyone in the cockpit area was killed while those in the aft compartment were seriously injured. That was an unholy sight for weeks which we had to drive past when entering that particular gate.
There was precedence for this accident. In June 2014 a IAI Westwind 1124 crashed on takeoff in Huntsville Alabama. It was a pilot training flight and the right TR deployed with no explanation. This aircraft rolled and crashed into the ground killing 3 aircrew. There were other circumstances that led to this particular indecent, but the reason for the TR deployment was never determined.
T-33
One of the comments reminded me of a "lecturer" I knew who had a gig teaching people how to wire plugs on electrical appliances in the UK around thirty-five years ago. In her own home she had a power lead which was not correctly secured by the cable clamp in the plug.
I was performing slow roll after take of flying Zlin 526 AFS not once but at rwight speedineg with rather climbing tendency. I was also making snap rolls and Inverted snap rolls very lo
I was performing slow roll after take of flying Zlin 526 AFS not once but at right speedineg with rather climbing tendency. I was also making snap rolls and Imvery
Why did only the left TR deploy and, why the left one?
Odd that the Incident Report shows the aircraft engines as "reciprocating." It is clearly a turbojet.
Been a rough couple of years for well-known aviators. Most recently, Dale "Snort" in Lewiston at the end of july, 2021.
No sound in this clip. I tried 2 devices to watch this
And the âexpertsâ come out of the woodwork.
The other consideration is that a gust lock was not removed prior to flight – either internally or externally. That would also account for extreme maneuvering on takeoff. I've seen that happen more than once.
What the hell I'm confused. What is the ntsb report at 4:48? I have been pausing and reading everything twice now and it makes no sense that you randomly put in the NTSB report from another crash.
I'm not a pilot, just like aviation in general, BUT having a TR deployed during taxing, that would be ENOUGH TO ground that AC till find the reason why that's happening geeesh!!!
11
I don't understand why the plane rolled that way!
this is a wake turbulence
I'd be reticent to fly an old beater I don't care how well it is maintained;one chaffed wire or a few loose rivets and you're on a one way flight to the pearly gates.
Saw an IAI crash like that in Alabama. Just rolled over and dove into the ground.
At the beginning of the vid,the plane to the right of the Screen,is that a Cessna Airtruck? As a little kid the prototypes were built near the town I lived at.
Super sad situation. Looks like to me the TR deployed as the throttles were pulled to idle. I put myself in that situation, and my immediate reaction very well may have been to go around – too many things may cause a shudder, a bump, a noise, that may mean bad stuff if I continue the landing. I'm thinking the TR deployment spooked the PF into making the quick go-around decision, and once the coals were poured on, the roll began and there was no going back. I can't think of another reason why they would become airborne again, especially if the left engine was in reverse – they probably would have ground looped, not gained 50 feet of altitude. The lessons of aviation are written in blood indeed. RIP aviators.
Looking at the angle of the impact, they almost certainly landed on their heads
RIP Crew. đȘ. Damn that happened fast. They were nearly there.
We miss you Britton!
You were the BEST Instructor and friend.
Blueskies and tailwinds!!!
The rapidity of the roll makes me wonder if improper rudder use was not also a factor ( like Midwest Express 105 at MKE – similar result from an engine failure and wrong rudder). I didnât see any reference to any flight recorder (other than non-functioning CVR). So weâll probably never know.
I donât really understand that go-around decision when they were already on (or nearly on) the runway – especially if itâs engine related.
It is admittedly hard to tell for sure from the video, but it appears that there was some significant aileron selection happening which would have just made the stall-roll worse.
Sad, indeed.
One second you're thinking of that meal you're going to have and in a second you're a pancake. Sad.
Wow! That would be like buying a car and they say âOh ya…Sometimes for no reason when you turn left and step on the gas, it will suddenly turn right and come screeching to a halt! But donât worry, we all know about it and just warn people. Youâll be fine!â
Just nitpicking on the accident report at 2:20, the engine is classified as âreciprocating , Fuel injectedâ, but below they correctly indicate a Garret 731 turbofan as power plant . What? Really, nobody noticed this mistake in an official accident report!
disgustingly sad damn damn damn
Looks like some thing broke!!!!!
Cyanide