Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wellman, Ohio 45068
Thursday, March 13, 2003 10:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight was on approach to the airport, descending from 16,000 feet to 11,000 feet. The airplane was flying through light rain, which became heavier. The captain then asked ATC for a 20-degree right turn due to weather. ATC approved the request, but soon after turning on to the new heading, the airplane was struck by lightning.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

An in-flight encounter with lightning.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 3/13/2003
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Wellman
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 45068
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 392905N
Event Location Longitude 0840147W
Event Location Airport Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CVG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 48
Degrees magnetic from airport 52
Airport Elevation 896
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1018 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 52
Weather Observation Facility ID CVG
Elevation of weather observation facility 896
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 48
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 600
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0.75
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 15
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14750
NTSB Notification Source Atlantic Coast Airlines
NTSB Notification Date Mar 13 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 5 2004 4:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Dulles, VA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N419FJ
NTSB Number NYC03IA066
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Dornier
Aircraft Model 328-300
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3173
Certified Max Gross Weight 34789
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 34
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Feb 28 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 90
Airframe Hours 4528
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name First Union National Bank
Aircraft Owner Street Address 401 S. Tryon St. 12th Floor
Aircraft Owner City Charlotte
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28288
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name ATLANTIC COAST AIRLINES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 45200 Business Court
Operator City Dulles
Operator State VA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 20166
Operator Code VTZA
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TOL
Departure City Toledo
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 933
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CVG
Destination City Covington
Destination State KY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2003 12:09PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 11000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --