Investigation Summary
The flight departed Runway 23R at 21:25 local time into instrument meteorological conditions. Shortly after reaching 300 feet, the crew initiated a turn that significantly exceeded standard rates, reaching bank angles nearly double the normal 22 degrees. This steep bank caused the aircraft to lose lift and descend. The Fairchild Metroliner struck the surface of a reservoir approximately 5,100 feet west of the runway before skidding onto land and into a wooded area. The NTSB noted that the First Officer had a documented history of piloting difficulties that the airline had failed to address effectively. The Captain was also noted to be suffering from a lingering cold, which may have affected his monitoring performance. Furthermore, the aircraft was not equipped with a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) or Flight Data Recorder (FDR), as they were not required for this class of aircraft at the time. ALPA later argued that a sudden malfunction of the Stall Avoidance System (SAS) computer was a more likely catalyst for the loss of control than simple pilot error.
Final Conclusions
The NTSB published its final report on December 13, 1988, originally citing improper instrument scanning by the First Officer and the crew's response to a stall warning fault. Following a 1993 petition by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the probable cause was revised to focus on the failure of the flight crew to maintain a proper flightpath, with contributing factors including ineffective management of flight crew training and operations by AVAir, and inadequate FAA surveillance of the airline.
Video Analysis
The victims of AVAir Flight 3378 | Who were they? — On February 19, 1988 a Fairchild Metroliner crashed while attempting to land in Cary, North Carolina, killing all on board.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Walter R. Cole Jr., age 38. Reported to be suffering from a lingering cold at the time of the accident. He had 160 hours on type.
Systems & Failure Modes
Stall Warning System
A system designed to alert pilots when the aircraft is approaching a critical angle of attack; a perceived fault in this system was cited as a potential distraction for the crew.
Attitude Indicator
The primary instrument for maintaining level flight in low visibility; improper scanning of this instrument led to the unrecognized steep bank.
Interesting Facts
- 01The accident was determined to be unsurvivable due to the extreme destruction of the airframe.
- 02The aircraft was not equipped with a CVR or FDR, which was legal under FAA regulations at the time.
- 03The weather at the time of departure featured a low ceiling and low visibility.
- 04The First Officer had documented performance issues in her training records prior to the accident.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Revised NTSB Probable Cause
The NTSB amended the probable cause in 1993 to emphasize systemic failures in airline management and FAA oversight rather than solely individual pilot error.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
ALPA Petition and Cause Revision
Reference ↗The Air Line Pilots Association successfully petitioned the NTSB to modify the probable cause, arguing the original findings placed disproportionate blame on the crew while downplaying systemic training and oversight failures.