Fairchild SA227 accident near Somerset, Kentucky, January 2, 2010
On January 2, 2010 at about 8:21 pm local time, a Fairchild SA227, registered N227ML, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Somerset, Kentucky (Lake Cumberland Regional airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Damaged wiring in the nosewheel steering harness, which resulted in a loss of control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilots' improper touchdown point.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 2, 2010 · about 8:21 pm local time
- Place
- Somerset, Kentucky · Lake Cumberland Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild SA227 · all SA227s on the register
- Registration
- N227ML · registry record · serial AC472
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to witness statements and tire marks on the runway, the airplane touched down more than halfway down the runway while landing with a slight quartering tailwind. As the nosewheel contacted the runway, the airplane veered to the right. The pilot applied full left rudder and full reverse on the left power lever, but was unsuccessful in correcting the alignment of the airplane. He then engaged the nosewheel steering button on the left power lever, and the airplane began a more aggressive turn to the right. It departed the runway, traveled down an embankment, and came to rest against the airport boundary fence. Postaccident examination of the airplane, engines, brakes, and nose landing gear steering actuator revealed no obvious mechanical anomalies. After the airplane was repaired and returned to service it again experienced an intermittent loss of steering. As a result, a series of troubleshooting taxi tests were performed. The airplane veered off the runway as it reached an airspeed of 50 knots and the brakes were applied. Further examination of the airplane revealed damaged wires in the nosewheel steering harness, which would have caused an intermittent loss of steering. Although an electrical anomaly contributed to the loss of control, the fact that the pilots landed long, and potentially with excess speed, resulted in less runway and time available to recover from the anomaly.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Land gear sys wiring › Damaged/degraded
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Flight crew
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,398 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 49 in the last 30 days; 5,220 as pilot in command; 1,004 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 31, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 625 hours in all; 277 in this make and model; 170 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days; 202 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 29, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 25,945 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 3, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 14,500 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Airesearch TPE331-11U (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Airesearch TPE331-11U (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Locair, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: BWI Baltimore/Washi MD at 6:20 pm
- Destination: SME Somerset KY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 5,800 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from SME
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.