Joplin Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Joplin, Missouri 64801
Monday, December 14, 1987 13:58 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CAPT STATED THAT HE HAD PLANNED THE APPROACH AT A HIGHER-THAN-NORMAL AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE DUE TO A REPORTED LOW LEVEL WINDSHEAR. AT 400 FEET AGL THE ACFT ENTERED A LIGHT DOWNDRAFT BUT THE CREW CORRECTED THE DESCENT PROFILE WITH POWER. AT 200 FEET AGL THE ACFT SUDDENLY, ACCORDING TO THE CAPT, PITCHED DOWN BEFORE IMPACTING THE RUNWAY. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ACFT PITCHED DOWN ON SHORT FINAL, LEVELED OFF, THEN SLAMMED ONTO THE RUNWAY ON ALL WHEELS. IT THEN BOUNCED, PITCHED DOWN AGAIN AND IMPACTED THE RUNWAY NOSE-FIRST. A SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION, OPERATIONAL TEST, AND TEARDOWN OF THE AIRPLANE'S STALL PROTECTION SYSTEM FOUND IT TO BE FUNCTIONING SATISFACTORILY. THE TWO POWERPLANTS ALSO TESTED WITHIN NORMAL PARAMETERS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/14/1987
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1358
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City JOPLIN
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 64801
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport JOPLIN MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID JLN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 981
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1348 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID JLN
Elevation of weather observation facility 981
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 0
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 17
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 5
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 7
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2541
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 14 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37202
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 3:04PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N331PX
NTSB Number MKC88FA027
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BRITISH AEROSPACE
Aircraft Model BAE-3101
Aircraft Series Identifier BAE-3101
Aircraft Serial Number 700
Certified Max Gross Weight 15000
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 19
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Nov 10 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 246
Airframe Hours 3470
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MERIDIAN TRUST CO. (TRUSTEE)
Aircraft Owner Street Address 35 NORTH SIXTH STREET
Aircraft Owner City READING
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19601
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name EXPRESS AIRLINES, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address MEMPHIS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Operator City MEMPHIS
Operator State TN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 38116
Operator Code REXA
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 Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MEM
Departure City MEMPHIS
Departure State TN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1234
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 13
Runway Length 6503
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --