Crashduringapproachtolandingempireairlinesflight8284

Crash during Approach to Landing Empire Airlines Flight 8284

John Williams

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide

Aviation Safety

409

Kalen Clapper

May 19, 2015

Abstract

Empire Airlines Flight 8284 crashed just short of the runway at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport in Lubbock, Texas on an instrument approach. Due to the crash, the captain received serious, injuries, and the first officer received minor injuries. The aircraft received major damage due to the crash, and sustained other damages due to fuel fire, and from HAZMAT the aircraft was carrying during the flight. The aircraft was registered to Fed Ex Corporation, and operated by Empire as a 14CFR Part 121 supplemental cargo flight. The flight departed from Fort Worth, Texas around 3:13am, and crashed in Lubbock, Texas around 4:37am central time.

Crash during Approach to Landing Empire Airlines Flight 8284

HISTORY

On the morning of January 27, 2009 around 4:37am central time, Empire Flight 8284 crashed short of the runway during an instrument approach at the Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport in Lubbock, Texas. The captain of the aircraft received serious injuries along with the first officer sustaining minor injuries during the flights descent to the Lubbock Airport. Descending from fourteen thousand to eight thousand feet during the approach checklist, the captain confirmed that the anti-icing and deicing protection was set to level three. The captain performed the approach brief which he believed to be the “icing speed” information (minimum operating airspeeds when approaching in ice conditions) caused the cargo plane to stall, and eventually crash.

It was stated that the aircraft had accumulated ice during descent when both pilots did their post-accident interview with the NTSB. The first officer of the aircraft stated she put the flaps at a setting to fifteen degrees, deployment of the landing gear, and started to do the landing checks. She also stated while...