Investigation Summary
The flight was a routine scheduled service from St. Louis to Kirksville. During the approach, the crew faced instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) with low ceilings and mist. The Kirksville Regional Airport was not equipped with an Instrument Landing System (ILS), requiring the crew to perform a localizer DME non-precision approach. Cockpit voice recorder (CVR) data revealed that the pilots engaged in non-pertinent conversation throughout the flight, failing to maintain a professional demeanor or adhere to sterile cockpit procedures. As the aircraft reached the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA), the captain reported seeing the ground and subsequently the approach lights, continuing the descent despite the first officer being unable to see the ground. The captain failed to monitor his flight instruments, and the first officer did not challenge the unauthorized descent below the MDA. The aircraft struck trees approximately 1.4 miles south of the runway at an elevation of 996 feet MSL, leading to a catastrophic impact and post-crash fire. The NTSB also noted that the crew was at the end of a 14 hour duty day, having completed six flight segments, which likely degraded their performance through fatigue.
Final Conclusions
The NTSB concluded that the probable cause was the pilots' failure to follow established procedures and properly conduct a non-precision instrument approach, specifically descending below the MDA without visual cues and failing to adhere to the division of duties. Contributing factors included the failure to make standard callouts, unprofessional behavior, and fatigue. The investigation also criticized Federal Aviation Regulations that allowed descent below MDA based only on seeing approach lights without assured obstacle clearance.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
How Pilot Error Sealed the Fate of Flight 5966 — The Jetstream 32 aircraft, carrying 15 people, encountered a catastrophic descent, leading to a fatal crash just miles from the runway.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
48 years old, former flight instructor.
First Officer
29 years old, hired three months prior to the accident.
Systems & Failure Modes
Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS)
The GPWS provided altitude callouts including 'five hundred' and 'minimums', but the crew continued the descent below the MDA without adequate visual reference.
Non-Precision Approach (Localizer DME)
A type of instrument approach that provides lateral guidance but not vertical guidance, requiring pilots to manually manage their descent profile to the MDA.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a British Aerospace Jetstream 32EP manufactured in 1990.
- 02Thirteen people died, including both pilots; two passengers survived with serious injuries.
- 03The two survivors were John Krogh (68) and his assistant Wendy Bonham (44).
- 04The survivors were seated in seats 4A and 4C, located over the wing spar.
- 05The crew was on their sixth flight of a 14-hour duty day.
- 06The crash occurred approximately 1.4 miles (2.2 km) south of Kirksville Regional Airport.
- 07The flight was operated on behalf of AmericanConnection, an affiliate of American Airlines.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Fatigue Regulation Revision
The NTSB recommended that the FAA revise flight and duty time regulations to incorporate scientific research on pilot fatigue.
MDA Descent Criteria
The investigation highlighted the danger of allowing pilots to descend below MDA based solely on seeing approach lights without assured obstacle clearance.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Unprofessional Cockpit Conduct
Reference ↗The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) revealed that the pilots engaged in extensive non-pertinent and unprofessional conversation, including joking about the 'fun' they were having and using profanity, which investigators concluded led to a breakdown in sterile cockpit discipline and situational awareness.