An Alaska [non] crash story #4
Era Aviation FAR Part 121 commuter
September 5, 2012
0 fatalities/injuries
PIC total time 8,000 hrs; 258 hrs PIC make/model
DHC-8-103 N886EA
Aerodynamic stall
Soldotna

Investigation closed. /1

Era Aviation’s name was later changed to Corvus Airlines.

This was an incident and not an accident. It is noteworthy due to the nature of the event and poor decision-making (on all levels) involved. /2

See the full NTSB report here: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20120906X05700&AKey=1&RType=HTML&IType=IA

Flight 874 departed Anchorage at 10:29AM enroute to Homer. The captain was the pilot flying. The forecast included moderate turbulence below 12,000’ and isolated moderate rime icing between 10,000 - 22,000’ ft. Freezing level was 5,000’. /3

Flight 874 was cleared to cruise at 10,000’. About 10 minutes in the air, Flight 874 was cleared for a block altitude from 10,000-14,000’ to avoid icing conditions. They cleared the clouds at 11,500’. /4

While leveling off at 12,000’ the aircraft began to “shudder”. It then went into a full stall and dropped about 5,000’ until it leveled off at about 7,072’. The PIC struggled to regain control the entire time. /5

This shows a graphic depiction of the flight path & altitude during the loss of control portion of the flight (via NTSB). /6

Flight Data Recorder data provides enormous evidence of how the aircraft struggled throughout the descent. Here’s a bit - read the report for full information. /7

Throughout the climb the SIC, who was responsible for monitoring the instrument panel, was “busy taking care of paperwork, charts, looking outside, focusing on icing conditions,” etc. He had no recollection of the aircraft maintaining proper climb airspeed prior to the stall. /8

The PIC also acknowledged that he did not monitor airspeed.

There was also this - the pilot selected the incorrect climb power. /9

The NTSB determined that the PIC’s response to the stall did not follow company procedures and, “delayed the recovery of the airplane.” In short, everything he did was wrong. /10

Throughout the event, the SIC was not helpful.

You really need to read this. /11

The NTSB also had issues with the company’s stall training in the aircraft. /12

Per AK DMV, the PIC had 10 moving violations in the previous 5 yrs; he was prohibited by the company from operating any company motor vehicles. There were also lapses in judgement in the air; interviewees noted that the PIC sometimes “got behind the airplane.” /13

The SIC initially failed his commercial checkride in 2003. He failed his CFI-glider in 2004. In August 2008 he was PIC in a PA31 for Era’s sister airline that crashed in Aniak resulting in 3 injuries. See that accident report here: /14 https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20080812X01219&AKey=1&RType=HTML&IType=LA

The SIC failed an ATP reexam flight with the FAA. (The FAA inspector found multiple issues with the SIC during the PA31 accident prompting the reexam.) He surrendered his ATP certificate but was still later transferred to fly SIC with Era in the larger aircraft. /15

There was no information from the Cockpit Voice Recorder of the incident because the tape overwrote after the aircraft returned to ANC. (If you're wondering if the company purposely kept the aircraft powered up to accomplish this...well, you wouldn’t be wrong to wonder.) /16

This incident occurred in the midst of a rash of events involving EraAlaska. They prompted recommendations from the NTSB, a full audit by the FAA & certificate fitness investigations by DOT. In the period from 2012 thru 2014, 6 people were killed & 11 people injured on Era. /17

EraAlaska rebranded as RavnAir, crashed again (repeatedly) bought PenAir, crashed again and went bankrupt early this year. The new owners are touting the continuity of management at New Ravn - that they will keep many of the same people in charge. /18

I wrote about Era Alaska/Ravn Air's crash history last year. /19 https://www.adn.com/opinions/2019/10/31/the-sobering-history-of-crashes-by-alaskas-biggest-rural-air-carrier/

There is more to write about Era/Ravn & why it is a prime example of how it is not the bush pilot myth or AK’s weather or geography that cause accidents. It is almost always preventable human mistakes - as evidenced in what happened on Flight 874. This time, we got lucky./fin