Bar Harbor Airlines Flight 1808
Encyclopedia
Bar Harbor Airlines Flight 1808 was a scheduled flight from Logan International Airport
to Bangor International Airport
in the United States
on August 25, 1985. On final approach to Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport
, the plane crashed short of the runway, killing all six passengers and two crew on board. Among the passengers was Samantha Smith
, a thirteen-year-old American school girl who had become famous as a "Goodwill Ambassador
" to the Soviet Union and who had been cast on the television show Lime Street.
and Waterville
, Maine
. The flight crew flew the aircraft from Bangor to Boston and back earlier that afternoon in worsening weather. On the second trip they were advised at an en route stop in Augusta that because of air traffic control
delays in Boston their return flight 1788 via Auburn/Lewiston
, Maine was being cancelled. They would instead operate the later flight 1808 with Auburn added as a flag stop to accommodate passengers from flight 1788.
Flight 1808 boarded in Boston with 6 passengers; 2 for Auburn, 3 for Augusta and 1 for Waterville. At 9:17 p.m. EDT the Captain radioed for their clearance to Auburn. The controller, unaware of the change in routing, advised they were filed to Augusta. The captain accepted the routing, but advised they would amend their routing after passing Pease VOR
, near Portsmouth
, New Hampshire
to Auburn. They departed the ramp at 9:26 p.m. and were cleared for takeoff from runway 4L at 9:30 pm.
At 10:00 p.m. they radioed the station agent at Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport for the latest weather. The agent reported a 300' obscured, indefinite ceiling, visibility of 1 mile in light drizzle, wind 020° (North Northeast) at 4 knots, altimeter 30.24 InHg. Shortly after this the crew was advised by a controller in Portland
they were drifting east of the ILS
approach course to runway 4 at Auburn. He advised them to turn to heading 340 to intercept. The Captain responded "OK". Almost a minute later the controller advised them they were passing the Lewie NDB
beacon at the outer marker for the approach and asked if they were receiving it. The first officer responded "affirmative". The controller then cleared them to switch to the airport's frequency, which was acknowledged by the first officer. This was the last transmission received from the flight. Portland controllers were notified less than 10 minutes later that the plane had crashed at 10:05 pm.
and flight data recorder
information. The Beech 99 was not a large enough plane for the FAA to require their installation. There was also no record of which pilot was to have flown the aircraft. Both pilots had used the radio during the flight instead of the non flying pilot. Examination of radar data from Portland showed that after the plane turned to course 340 to intercept the approach, it flew through the approach and had to correct to get back on course. Investigators noted that this instruction meant the flight crew had to make a 60 degree turn less than one mile from the approach outer marker. Altitude data transmitted by the aircraft transponder showed the plane did not begin its descent along the precision glide slope until it was above it after passing Lewie. This may have caused the flight crew to rush both the descent and the approach. The Captain's altimeter recovered from the wreckage was set to 30.42 InHg, a number transposition from the correct setting 30.24 InHg. With this setting it would have read approximately 180 feet higher than the plane actually was, and close to the 200 feet above ground level minimum descent for the approach. The first officer's altimeter was also set incorrectly at 30.12 InHg causing it to read 120 feet low. The aircraft flew into trees less than one mile from the end of runway 4 and impacted the ground less than 500 feet to the right of the extended runway center line. There were no survivors.
In publishing its report, the National Transportation Safety Board
noted that the controller in Portland used "poor judgment" assisting the flight. However, it concluded that the Captain accepted the large course correction and the crew continued flying an unstabilized approach
instead of executing a missed approach
. As well, the flight crew attempted to stabilize the approach while allowing the plane to fly below the instrument glide slope. The incorrect altimeter settings may have caused this descent to continue below the published decision height. At night in low visibility the crew may have been unaware of their true position. The NTSB recommended a review of controller procedures for outlying airports without ground radar. The 60 degree turn less than one mile from the outer marker would violate approach guidelines for radar assisted arrivals to Portland International Jetport
for example. It further recommended aircraft for hire capable of carrying 6 or more passengers be equipped with flight recorder
s.
This accident attracted unusual media attention for a small commuter plane accident. Two of the three passengers headed for Augusta were Samantha Smith
and her father, Arthur. Three years earlier, she had written to Soviet Premier Yuri Andropov
regarding her desire for peace between the United States
and the Soviet Union
. At Andropov's invitation, she and her family toured the Soviet Union. In 1985, ABC
hired her to be an actress on its new show Lime Street which was filmed on location in London
. She and her father were headed home during a break from shooting when the fatal accident occurred.
Jane Smith, Samantha's mother, filed a wrongful death suit
against Bar Harbor Airlines. The case was later settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.
Logan International Airport
General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport is located in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts . It covers , has six runways, and employs an estimated 16,000 people. It is the 19th busiest airport in the United States.Boston serves as a focus city for JetBlue Airways...
to Bangor International Airport
Bangor International Airport
Bangor International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located west of the city of Bangor, in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It is owned and operated by the City of Bangor and was formerly a military installation known as Dow Air Force Base. The airport possesses a single...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on August 25, 1985. On final approach to Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport
Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport
Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport is a public use airport in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States, opened in 1935. It is located four nautical miles southwest the cities of Auburn and Lewiston, both of which own and operate the airport, although it is located solely in the city of Auburn.The...
, the plane crashed short of the runway, killing all six passengers and two crew on board. Among the passengers was Samantha Smith
Samantha Smith
Samantha Reed Smith was an American schoolgirl and child actress from Manchester, Maine, who became famous in the Cold War-era United States and Soviet Union...
, a thirteen-year-old American school girl who had become famous as a "Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador is a collective term sometimes used as a substitute honorific title or a title of honor for an Ambassador of Goodwill; but, most appropriately for a generic recognition, it is a job position or description that is usually indicated following the name of the individual recognized...
" to the Soviet Union and who had been cast on the television show Lime Street.
Timeline
Flight 1808 normally stopped en route at AugustaAugusta, Maine
Augusta is the capital of the US state of Maine, county seat of Kennebec County, and center of population for Maine. The city's population was 19,136 at the 2010 census, making it the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota...
and Waterville
Waterville, Maine
Waterville is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States, on the west bank of the Kennebec River. The population was 15,722 at the 2010 census. Home to Colby College and Thomas College, Waterville is the regional commercial, medical and cultural center....
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. The flight crew flew the aircraft from Bangor to Boston and back earlier that afternoon in worsening weather. On the second trip they were advised at an en route stop in Augusta that because of air traffic control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
delays in Boston their return flight 1788 via Auburn/Lewiston
Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport
Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport is a public use airport in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States, opened in 1935. It is located four nautical miles southwest the cities of Auburn and Lewiston, both of which own and operate the airport, although it is located solely in the city of Auburn.The...
, Maine was being cancelled. They would instead operate the later flight 1808 with Auburn added as a flag stop to accommodate passengers from flight 1788.
Flight 1808 boarded in Boston with 6 passengers; 2 for Auburn, 3 for Augusta and 1 for Waterville. At 9:17 p.m. EDT the Captain radioed for their clearance to Auburn. The controller, unaware of the change in routing, advised they were filed to Augusta. The captain accepted the routing, but advised they would amend their routing after passing Pease VOR
VHF omnidirectional range
VOR, short for VHF omnidirectional radio range, is a type of radio navigation system for aircraft. A VOR ground station broadcasts a VHF radio composite signal including the station's identifier, voice , and navigation signal. The identifier is typically a two- or three-letter string in Morse code...
, near Portsmouth
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
to Auburn. They departed the ramp at 9:26 p.m. and were cleared for takeoff from runway 4L at 9:30 pm.
At 10:00 p.m. they radioed the station agent at Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport for the latest weather. The agent reported a 300' obscured, indefinite ceiling, visibility of 1 mile in light drizzle, wind 020° (North Northeast) at 4 knots, altimeter 30.24 InHg. Shortly after this the crew was advised by a controller in Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
they were drifting east of the ILS
Instrument Landing System
An instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
approach course to runway 4 at Auburn. He advised them to turn to heading 340 to intercept. The Captain responded "OK". Almost a minute later the controller advised them they were passing the Lewie NDB
Non-directional beacon
A non-directional beacon is a radio transmitter at a known location, used as an aviation or marine navigational aid. As the name implies, the signal transmitted does not include inherent directional information, in contrast to other navigational aids such as low frequency radio range, VHF...
beacon at the outer marker for the approach and asked if they were receiving it. The first officer responded "affirmative". The controller then cleared them to switch to the airport's frequency, which was acknowledged by the first officer. This was the last transmission received from the flight. Portland controllers were notified less than 10 minutes later that the plane had crashed at 10:05 pm.
Investigation
In the aftermath of the accident, investigators were hindered by the absence of cockpit voice recorderCockpit voice recorder
A cockpit voice recorder , often referred to as a "black box", is a flight recorder used to record the audio environment in the flight deck of an aircraft for the purpose of investigation of accidents and incidents...
and flight data recorder
Flight data recorder
A flight data recorder is an electronic device employed to record any instructions sent to any electronic systems on an aircraft. It is a device used to record specific aircraft performance parameters...
information. The Beech 99 was not a large enough plane for the FAA to require their installation. There was also no record of which pilot was to have flown the aircraft. Both pilots had used the radio during the flight instead of the non flying pilot. Examination of radar data from Portland showed that after the plane turned to course 340 to intercept the approach, it flew through the approach and had to correct to get back on course. Investigators noted that this instruction meant the flight crew had to make a 60 degree turn less than one mile from the approach outer marker. Altitude data transmitted by the aircraft transponder showed the plane did not begin its descent along the precision glide slope until it was above it after passing Lewie. This may have caused the flight crew to rush both the descent and the approach. The Captain's altimeter recovered from the wreckage was set to 30.42 InHg, a number transposition from the correct setting 30.24 InHg. With this setting it would have read approximately 180 feet higher than the plane actually was, and close to the 200 feet above ground level minimum descent for the approach. The first officer's altimeter was also set incorrectly at 30.12 InHg causing it to read 120 feet low. The aircraft flew into trees less than one mile from the end of runway 4 and impacted the ground less than 500 feet to the right of the extended runway center line. There were no survivors.
In publishing its report, the National Transportation Safety Board
National Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation. In this role, the NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and incidents, certain types of highway crashes, ship and marine...
noted that the controller in Portland used "poor judgment" assisting the flight. However, it concluded that the Captain accepted the large course correction and the crew continued flying an unstabilized approach
Unstabilized approach
An unstabilized approach is an approach during which an aircraft does not maintain at leastone of the following variables stable: speed, descent rate, vertical/lateral flight path and inlanding configuration...
instead of executing a missed approach
Missed approach
Missed approach is an instrument flight rules procedure which is a standard component segment of an instrument approach. Generally, if the pilot flying or the pilot in command determines by the time the aircraft is at the decision height or missed approach point , that the runway or its...
. As well, the flight crew attempted to stabilize the approach while allowing the plane to fly below the instrument glide slope. The incorrect altimeter settings may have caused this descent to continue below the published decision height. At night in low visibility the crew may have been unaware of their true position. The NTSB recommended a review of controller procedures for outlying airports without ground radar. The 60 degree turn less than one mile from the outer marker would violate approach guidelines for radar assisted arrivals to Portland International Jetport
Portland International Jetport
Portland International Jetport is a public airport located two miles west of the central business district of Portland, in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. It is owned by the city of Portland...
for example. It further recommended aircraft for hire capable of carrying 6 or more passengers be equipped with flight recorder
Flight recorder
A flight recorder is an electronic recording device placed in an aircraft for the purpose of facilitating the investigation of an aircraft accident or incident. For this reason, flight recorders are required to be capable of surviving the conditions likely to be encountered in a severe aircraft...
s.
Passengers
Samantha Smith
Samantha Reed Smith was an American schoolgirl and child actress from Manchester, Maine, who became famous in the Cold War-era United States and Soviet Union...
and her father, Arthur. Three years earlier, she had written to Soviet Premier Yuri Andropov
Yuri Andropov
Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov was a Soviet politician and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 12 November 1982 until his death fifteen months later.-Early life:...
regarding her desire for peace between the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. At Andropov's invitation, she and her family toured the Soviet Union. In 1985, ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
hired her to be an actress on its new show Lime Street which was filmed on location in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. She and her father were headed home during a break from shooting when the fatal accident occurred.
Jane Smith, Samantha's mother, filed a wrongful death suit
Wrongful death claim
Wrongful death is a claim in common law jurisdictions against a person who can be held liable for a death. The claim is brought in a civil action, usually by close relatives, as enumerated by statute...
against Bar Harbor Airlines. The case was later settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.