Portland Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Portland, Indiana 47371
Thursday, February 22, 1996 3:20 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was attempting a second NDB/GPS Runway 9 approach to the Portland Airport. Visibility was estimated at 1/8 to 1/4 mile. The airplane came to rest approximately 1/2 mile south of the airport. The commercial rated passenger remembered getting below the minimum descent altitude of 1,500 feet, and told the pilot they needed to make a missed approach. The passenger remembered 1,120 feet MSL on the altimeter at the time of the first impact.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain an altitude adequate for terrain clearance. A factor was the weather.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/22/1996
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 320
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City PORTLAND
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 47371
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PORTLAND
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PLD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 926
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 250 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 346
Weather Observation Facility ID FWA
Elevation of weather observation facility 815
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1.5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 378
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 22 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:50AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5024J
NTSB Number CHI96FA095
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 310
Aircraft Series Identifier 310
Aircraft Serial Number 310R0144
Certified Max Gross Weight 5500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 12 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 6400
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MILLER AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 4 BOX 98A
Aircraft Owner City PORTLAND
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 47371
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PWK
Departure City WHEELING
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1245
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PLD
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --