Fort Wayne International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
Monday, June 2, 1997 23:25 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While flying his ILS approach with 1 mile visibility and a 200 foot ceiling, the pilot was able to see the runway lights to the right side of the airplane upon reaching decision height, but chose a missed approach. The second approach resulted in the same conditions. On the third approach, the pilot requested a radar surveillance approach coupled with the ILS approach for glide slope information. The pilot stated 'I fixed my eyes on the runway and inadvertently descended below the glide path and landed short of the runway.' No discrepancies were discovered with the Nav #1 or Nav #2 instrumentation regarding the ILS centering, deflection and sensitivity.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot did not comply with the decision height and his attention was diverted from his cockpit scan. The factors involved were the weather conditions were at landing minimums and a flight to his destination alternate was not performed.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/2/1997
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2325
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City FORT WAYNE
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46802
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FORT WAYNE INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FWA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 230
Airport Elevation 815
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 25 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID FWA
Elevation of weather observation facility 815
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 100
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
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) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 858
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 376
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 3 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 514
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:19PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N171DB
NTSB Number CHI97LA154
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 340A
Aircraft Series Identifier 340A
Aircraft Serial Number 340A-1257
Certified Max Gross Weight 5800
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 Nov 21 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 2230
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EXTERIOR DESIGNING, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address SPRING LAKE FARM
Aircraft Owner City HOAGLAND
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46745
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 None
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code F28
Departure City EL RENO
Departure State OK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1900
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code FWA
Destination City
Destination State IN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 5
Runway Length 12000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --