N183GA

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On April 8, 2003, at 1349 eastern daylight time, a Dassault Fan Jet Falcon (DA-20), N183GA, operated by Grand Aire Express Inc. (GAE), as flight 183, was destroyed when it struck trees while on an instrument approach to Toledo Express Airport (TOL), Swanton, Ohio. The two certificated airline transport pilots, and pilot rated passenger were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight, which last departed from Cherry Capital Airport (TVC), Traverse City, Michigan. The flight was conducted on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the Director of Operations (DO) for Grand Aire Express, the flight was dispatched from Toledo with a 14 CFR Part 135 qualified flight crew on board, and a first officer in training (FO), who occupied the jump seat with no required duties.

According to records from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), prior to departure from Toledo, the direct user access terminal system (DUATS) was accessed using a Grand Aire logon. Selected notices to airmen (NOTAMS), terminal forecasts (TAFs), and aviation routine weather reports (METARS) were requested by the logon user.

The airplane then flew from TOL to Grand Rapids (GRR), Michigan, where cargo was loaded. There was no servicing while the airplane was on the ground at Grand Rapids. However, flight service was contacted by the flight crew and an IFR flight plan was filed to Traverse City. The latest weather for Traverse City, and their alternate airport was also requested. When asked if any additional weather was needed, the offer was declined.

There were no reported problems on the flight between Grand Rapids and Traverse City. While on the ground at Traverse City, the airplane was serviced with 150 gallons of Jet-A aviation grade turbine fuel.

Flight service was again contacted by the flightcrew and an IFR flight plan to Toledo was filed. No weather information was requested.

The return flight to Toledo was planned as an instructional flight for the FO, who was being prepared for his 14 CFR 135, second-in-command checkride. The pilot-in-command (PIC) occupied the left seat. He was the company chief pilot, an FAA designated check airman, and a company designated flight instructor. The FO in training occupied the right seat, and the 14 CFR Part 135, DA-20 qualified first officer occupied the jump seat, as a pilot rated passenger with no required duties.

There were no reported problems with the departure or en route phases of the flight. The pilots initially contacted Toledo Approach Control at 1324.

The pilots initiated a practice ILS approach to runway 07, with the intent to perform a missed approach. During the missed approach, the airplane was radar vectored for a second ILS approach to runway 07.

The air/ground communications tape between the airplane and approach control was reviewed. The director of operations identified the voice that was responding to radio calls as the PIC.

According to an FAA transcript of air/ground communications, at 1345:29, Grand Aire flight 183 was requested to maintain 180 knots to TOPHR, the final approach fix. This instruction was acknowledged by the PIC.

At 1346:21, flight 183 was instructed to maintain 2,300 feet until established on the localizer, and cleared for the ILS runway 07 approach. The flight was again instructed to maintain 180 knots to TOPHR. This was acknowledged by the PIC.

At 1348:51, the arrival controller transmitted, "grand air one eighty three, contact tower."

At 1348:54, the PIC transmitted, "tower, grand air one eight three."

No further transmissions were received from the airplane, and radar contact was lost.

A witness driving south on a road, adjacent to the west side of Oak Openings Preserve Park, reported that she saw the airplane on final approach. She described it as lower than normal, and north of the final approach course. She stopped her vehicle, stepped out, and watched the airplane fly overhead. She reported that she could hear a popping noise as the airplane passed overhead. As the airplane disappeared from view, she thought she heard a power reduction from the engines. She then got into her vehicle and did not see or hear anything else.

A second witness who was located north of the localizer approach course reported that the tops of the trees, which were 80 to 100 feet high, were obscured by fog. He could hear the engines running intermittently, interspaced with "bangs."

A third witness reported hearing a noise, which she described as, "like a huge drum of nuts and bolts, and you shook it. It was very, very loud and then silence."

A ground search was initiated, and the airplane was located about 1415.

The accident occurred during the hours of daylight at 41 degrees, 34.371 minutes north latitude, and 83 degrees, 51.815 minutes west longitude.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

Pilot-In-Command

The PIC held an airline transport pilot certificate for multi-engine airplanes, and a type rating for the DA-20. He held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for single engine airplanes, rotorcraft helicopter, and instrument helicopter. He also held a flight instructor certificate with ratings for single and multi-engine, and instrument airplane. He was last issued a first class FAA airman medical certificate with no limitations on April 2, 2003.

According to the company, the PIC's total flight experience was 4,829 hours, with 4,384 hours as PIC. His total DA-20 experience was 1,100 hours including 923 hours as PIC. He had flown 82 hours in the preceding 90 days, and 28 hours in the preceding 30 days.

The PIC also held a mechanic's certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings.

The PIC completed initial training in the DA-20 on April 22, 2000. His last recurrent ground school was completed on May 3, 2002. His last proficiency check in the DA-20 occurred on January 3, 2003.

First Officer

The FO held an airline transport pilot certificate for multi-engine airplanes and a type rating for the EMB-120. He held a commercial pilot certificate with a single engine rating. He also held a flight instructor certificate with a single engine rating. He was last issued a first class FAA airman medical certificate with no limitations on February 27, 2003.

According to the company, the FO's total flight experience was 4,632 hours, including 2,000 hours as PIC, and 7.1 hours in make and model. He had flown 63 hours in the preceding 90 days, and 21 hours in the preceding 30 days.

The FO completed DA-20 ground school on April 2, 2003. Prior to the accident flight, he had received 7.1 hours of dual instruction in the DA-20, all from the PIC. He started flight training on March 13, 2003, and his last instructional flight prior to the accident was on April 2, 2003.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The type certificate data sheet referred to the airplane as a Fan Jet Falcon. The airplane was originally equipped with two General Electric CF 700-2C engines, and had been upgraded to the CF 700-2D2 engines by service bulletin.

The wings were equipped with trailing edge flaps, and droop leading edges (DLE) on the outboard half of the wings.

The fuel system consisted of two wing tanks, and two rear compartment tanks located aft of the aft pressure bulkhead, and between the engines. The wing tanks held 552 gallons on each side, and the rear compartment tanks held 71 gallons on each side.

The airplane had been converted from passenger carrying to a freighter by removal of the main cabin door, and the interior liner and seats. Entrance to the airplane was through the cargo door, forward of the leading edge of the left wing. There were three methods to exit the airplane. The main cargo door and the sliding left side direct vision window in the cockpit could both be used as an emergency exit. In addition, there was an overhead plug type emergency exit which measured 18.5 inches wide, and 13.5 inches deep. This emergency exit was located behind the pilot seats and in front of the cockpit jump seat.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

Interviews with the pilots of two airplanes that were following the accident airplane revealed they had their anti-ice systems ON at the time of the accident. One pilot reported light to moderate rime ice, between 1048 and 1210, while operating in the Toledo area. When he returned to Toledo, he did not notice any ice buildup on the airplane. The other pilot reported rapidly building rime ice, and he requested an altitude change to avoid the ice.

A meteorological factual report was completed by a Safety Board Meteorologist. According to the report, there was no frontal activity. However, there was an area of low pressure, with high humidity. In addition, the surface temperatures were near freezing over Michigan and Northern Ohio.

The report also listed six pilot reports from the Toledo area, between 0707 and 1215. Five of the reports listed light to moderate rime ice, and the tops of the overcast to be between 5,000 feet and 6,000 feet. The airplanes ranged from single engine airplanes not approved for flight in icing conditions, to a Gulfstream IV in which the crew reported moderate rime ice.

The 1333 Special weather observation at Toledo included winds from 300 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 1 statue mile, mist, ceiling 300 feet overcast, temperature 0 C, dewpoint -1 C, remarks, surface visibility 1 1/4 statute miles.

The 1352 METAR weather observation at Toledo included winds from 300 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 1 statue mile, mist, ceiling 300 feet overcast, temperature 0 C, dewpoint -1 C, remarks, surface visibility 1 3/4 statute miles.

According to the terminal forecast for Toledo issued at 0958, between 1200 and 1500, the visibility was forecast to be 3 statute miles and included freezing drizzle, and mist, and a ceiling of broken clouds at 500 feet.

The terminal forecast that was c...