Colgan Air 3407 - Buffalo

As I've referred in the BALPA's post, today I share the history of the Colgan Air flight 3407. This event is in line with what is said by the British Association.

The history of the flight...

On February 12, 2009, about 2217 eastern standard time a Bombardier DHC-8-400 (Q400), operating as Continental Connection flight 3407, was on an instrument approach to Buffalo-Niagara International Airport (BUF), Buffalo, New York, when it crashed into a residence in Clarence Center, New York, about 5 nautical miles (nm) northeast of the airport. The 2 pilots, 2 flight attendants, 45 passengers aboard the airplane were killed and also one person on the ground.
 

For me the main reason for the crash was "captain’s inappropriate aft control column inputs in response to the stick shaker caused the airplane’s wing to stall."

This is just another proof that sometimes the basics of flight training are not put in practice for a stall recovery. Just like the case of the Airbus 330 performing the Air France flight 447. Similar nose up input to the sidestick was given as response to a stall. That make us wonder. Did those crews realised of the stall sate? I guess no..

Also the fatigue may have contributed to the events since pilots didn't have proper spaces to rest. As NTSB says "the pilots’ performance was likely impaired because of fatigue, but the extent of their impairment and the degree to which it contributed to the performance deficiencies that occurred during the flight cannot be conclusively determined."

•  Bombardier Q400 PFD/  Air Speed indications

 

 Fig 1. - NTSB Q400 PFD explanation

A low-speed cue is shown as a red and black vertical bar that extends from the bottom right of the vertical scale. The low-speed cue warns pilots of an inappropriately low airspeed for the airplane configuration or operating condition. If the airplane’s IAS is less than or equal to the IAS at the top of the low-speed cue, the stick shaker activates. Also, the numbers on the IAS display change from white to red, providing pilots with another visual warning of an inappropriately low airspeed.

NSTB Animation:

"Good judgement comes from experience. Good experience comes from someone's else bad judgement."

Learn from others' mistakes.....as we won't live long enough to make ours all of them.

RWY35-17