Swearingen SA227AT Merlin IVC crash, Feb 8, 2001 (2 killed)
Swearingen SA227AT Merlin IVC accident on February 8, 2001 near Beaver Island, Michigan, United States with 2 fatalities. Cause: Flightcrew not...
- Date: February 8, 2001
- Aircraft: Swearingen SA227AT Merlin IVC
- Location: Beaver Island, Michigan, United States
- Fatalities: 2
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: Flightcrew not maintaining altitude and clearance during the circling instrument approach, with the flight started without weather reporting at the destination as a contributing factor.
A Part 135 on-demand air taxi Merlin IVC was destroyed when it struck trees and terrain while circling to land at Beaver Island at night. The destination had no weather reporting and the crew continued the approach in low ceilings. The NTSB cited the crew's altitude deviation during the circling approach, an uncertificated second pilot, and operator and crew failures to follow procedures.