Dornier 328-300 incident near Albany, New York, May 22, 2002
On May 22, 2002 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Dornier 328-300, registered N421FJ, was involved in an incident near Albany, New York. It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Rudder oscillations of an undetermined origin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2002 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Albany, New York · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dornier 328-300 · all 328-300s on the register
- Registration
- N421FJ · no longer on the register · serial 3179
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Dornier 328-300 experienced uncommanded rudder oscillations on descent. At the start of the oscillations, the autopilot was engaged. However, it was disengaged and the oscillations continued. The integrated avionics computer (IAC) was replaced, and the airplane was given a maintenance test flight. No problems were noted and the airplane was returned to service. Examination of the IAC found no direct link between the rudder oscillations and the IAC. Seven months after the event, it has not reoccurred. The cause of the oscillations was not determined.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,100 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 2,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 6, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-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: 1,911 hours in all; 196 in this make and model; 1,113 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 3, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,609 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 21, 2002; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 33,841 lb
- Seats: 35
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PW 306B (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PW 306B (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Atlantic Coast Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: CVG Covington KY at 11:27 am
- Destination: ALB Albany NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.36 inHg
- Observation at 12:51 pm from ALB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.