Fairchild SA-227AC accident near Augusta, Maine, October 7, 1991
On October 7, 1991 at about 2:50 am local time, a Fairchild SA-227AC, registered N120FA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Augusta, Maine (Augusta State airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries; 16 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE COPILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. FACTORS WERE THE CAPTAIN'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW COMPANY PROCEDURE AND BOTH PILOT'S LIMITED EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 1991 · about 2:50 am local time
- Place
- Augusta, Maine · Augusta State
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 16 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild SA-227AC · all SA-227ACs on the register
- Registration
- N120FA · registry record · serial AC-461-B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FIRST OFICER LANDED LONG WITH A TAILWIND ON A WET RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY, WENT OFF THE DEPARTURE END AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THE FLIGHT CREW RECEIVED TWO WEATHER ADVISORIES PRIOR TO LANDING TELLING THEM OF THE WINDS. THE CAPTAIN AND FIRST OFFICER BOTH HAD LESS THAN 100 HOURS IN MODEL. THE COMPANY OPERATIONS MANUAL REQUIRED THE CAPTAIN TO MAKE ALL TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS WHEN HE HAD LESS THAN 100 HOURS IN MODEL.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,267 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 41 in the last 30 days; 2,910 as pilot in command; 611 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,195 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 29, 1991; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 16,000 lb
- Seats: 21
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-11U (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BOS Boston MA at 2:14 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 310° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft; scat at 600 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:48 am from AUG, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 14 |
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.