Aerospatiale Alenia ATR 42-320 accident near Lubbock, Texas, January 27, 2009
On January 27, 2009 at about 10:37 am local time, a Aerospatiale Alenia ATR 42-320, registered N902FX, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR initial approach) near Lubbock, Texas (Lubbock Preston Smith airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight crew's failure to monitor and maintain a minimum safe airspeed while executing an instrument approach in icing conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at low altitude. Contributing to the accident were 1) the flight crew's failure to follow published standard operating procedures in response to a flap anomaly, 2) the captain's decision to continue with the unstabilized approach, 3) the flight crew's poor crew resource management, and 4) fatigue due to the time of day in which the accident occurred and a cumulative sleep debt, which likely impaired the captain's performance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 27, 2009 · about 10:37 am local time
- Place
- Lubbock, Texas · Lubbock Preston Smith · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale Alenia ATR 42-320
- Registration
- N902FX · no longer on the register · serial 325
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Safety Board’s full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/Publictn/A_Acc1.htm. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-11/02. On January 27, 2009, about 0437 central standard time, an Avions de Transport Régional Aerospatiale Alenia ATR 42 320, N902FX, operating as Empire Airlines flight 8284, was on an instrument approach when it crashed short of the runway at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, Lubbock, Texas. The captain sustained serious injuries, and the first officer sustained minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to Federal Express Corporation and operated by Empire Airlines, Inc., as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 supplemental cargo flight. The flight departed from Fort Worth Alliance Airport, Fort Worth, Texas, about 0313. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (IFR final approach)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (IFR initial approach) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Flight crew
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Freezing rain/sleet › Effect on equipment
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › (general) › Flight crew
- factor Personnel issues › Physical › Alertness/Fatigue › Lack of sleep › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Physical › Alertness/Fatigue › Circadian rhythms or jetlag › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › CRM/MRM techniques › Flight crew
- Organizational issues › Management › Communication (organizational) › Between groups/organizations › Emergency services
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › (general) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,200 hours in all
- Last flight review: July 5, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 29,767.9 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 9, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 37,258 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt And Whitney Canada PW 121 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt And Whitney Canada PW 121 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Empire Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: AFW Fort Worth TX at 9:19 am
- Destination: LBB Lubbock TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17R, 11,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 am from LBB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.