United Express Flight 5925
Encyclopedia
United Express
flight 5925, operated by Great Lakes Airlines
with a Beechcraft 1900
, as their flight 5926, was a regularly scheduled flight from Chicago O'Hare International Airport
to Quincy, Illinois
, with an intermediate stop in Burlington, Iowa
. On November 19, 1996, the flight crashed upon landing at Quincy, colliding with a Beechcraft King Air. All 12 aboard the 1900 and 2 aboard the King Air were killed in the accident. United continues to use the Flight 5925 designation as a United Express flight but it now flies from Sioux Falls-Chicago (O'Hare)- Sioux Falls route as ExpressJet Airlines
using an Embraer RJ145.
were proceeding to Runway 04. As Quincy is an uncontrolled airport, all three aircraft were operating on the same Common Traffic Advisory Frequency
. On approach, the United Express crew inquired as to whether the King Air would hold short of the runway, or depart before their arrival. After receiving no response, the United Express crew called again, and received a reply from the Cherokee that they were holding short. However, due to the ground proximity warning system
sounding in the 1900s cockpit, only part of the transmission was received by the 1900.
Assuming that both planes were holding, Flight 5925 landed on Runway 13. The King Air, however, had taxied into position on Runway 4, and had begun its takeoff roll when Flight 5925 landed. Both aircraft collided at the intersection of runways 4 and 13. The aircraft skidded for 110 feet (33.5 m), coming to rest alongside Runway 13, and caught fire. Several pilots in the vicinity of the crash came to the scene, but were unable to open the doors of the aircraft before both planes were destroyed by fire. All 12 aboard the 1900 and both pilots of the King Air were killed in the accident.
determined that the cause of the accident was the King Air pilots' failure to effectively monitor both the common frequency and to scan for traffic. A contributing factor was the Cherokee's transmission at the same time as the United Express transmission. Lack of adequate rescue and firefighting equipment was a cited as a factor in the high fatality rate.
United Express
United Express is a brand name under which eight regional airlines operate feeder flights for United Airlines. They primarily connect smaller cities with United's domestic hub airports and “focus cities,” although they offer some point-to-point service such as Sacramento to Eureka.As of Sept...
flight 5925, operated by Great Lakes Airlines
Great Lakes Airlines
Great Lakes Airlines , is an American regional airline operating domestic scheduled and charter services. Corporate headquarters are located in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with hubs at Denver International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, McCarran...
with a Beechcraft 1900
Beechcraft 1900
The Beechcraft 1900 is a 19-passenger, pressurized twin-engine turboprop airplane manufactured by the Beechcraft Division of the Raytheon Company . It was designed, and is primarily used, as a regional airliner...
, as their flight 5926, was a regularly scheduled flight from Chicago O'Hare International Airport
O'Hare International Airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop...
to Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, known as Illinois' "Gem City," is a river city along the Mississippi River and the county seat of Adams County. As of the 2010 census the city held a population of 40,633. The city anchors its own micropolitan area and is the economic and regional hub of West-central Illinois, catering a...
, with an intermediate stop in Burlington, Iowa
Burlington, Iowa
Burlington is a city in, and the county seat of Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,663 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in the 2000 census. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area including West Burlington, Iowa and Middletown, Iowa and...
. On November 19, 1996, the flight crashed upon landing at Quincy, colliding with a Beechcraft King Air. All 12 aboard the 1900 and 2 aboard the King Air were killed in the accident. United continues to use the Flight 5925 designation as a United Express flight but it now flies from Sioux Falls-Chicago (O'Hare)- Sioux Falls route as ExpressJet Airlines
ExpressJet Airlines
ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. is an American regional airline based in the A-Tech Center in College Park, Georgia. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlantic Southeast Airlines which is in turn a subsidiary of the airline holding company SkyWest, Inc., parent company of the air carrier SkyWest...
using an Embraer RJ145.
Synopsis
United Express Flight 5925 departed from Chicago at 15:25 on November 19, 1996. After a stop at Burlington, Iowa, the flight proceeded to Quincy. Two aircraft at Quincy were ready for departure when Flight 5925 approached. Both a Beechcraft King Air and a Piper CherokeePiper Cherokee
The Piper PA-28 Cherokee is a family of light aircraft designed for flight training, air taxi, and personal use. It is built by Piper Aircraft....
were proceeding to Runway 04. As Quincy is an uncontrolled airport, all three aircraft were operating on the same Common Traffic Advisory Frequency
Common Traffic Advisory Frequency
Common Traffic Advisory Frequency , is the name given to the VHF radio frequency used for air-to-air communication at U.S., Canadian and Australian non-towered airports....
. On approach, the United Express crew inquired as to whether the King Air would hold short of the runway, or depart before their arrival. After receiving no response, the United Express crew called again, and received a reply from the Cherokee that they were holding short. However, due to the ground proximity warning system
Ground Proximity Warning System
A ground proximity warning system is a system designed to alert pilots if their aircraft is in immediate danger of flying into the ground or an obstacle. The United States Federal Aviation Administration defines GPWS as a type of terrain awareness warning system...
sounding in the 1900s cockpit, only part of the transmission was received by the 1900.
Assuming that both planes were holding, Flight 5925 landed on Runway 13. The King Air, however, had taxied into position on Runway 4, and had begun its takeoff roll when Flight 5925 landed. Both aircraft collided at the intersection of runways 4 and 13. The aircraft skidded for 110 feet (33.5 m), coming to rest alongside Runway 13, and caught fire. Several pilots in the vicinity of the crash came to the scene, but were unable to open the doors of the aircraft before both planes were destroyed by fire. All 12 aboard the 1900 and both pilots of the King Air were killed in the accident.
Cause
The National Transportation Safety BoardNational 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...
determined that the cause of the accident was the King Air pilots' failure to effectively monitor both the common frequency and to scan for traffic. A contributing factor was the Cherokee's transmission at the same time as the United Express transmission. Lack of adequate rescue and firefighting equipment was a cited as a factor in the high fatality rate.