Event DCA95MA006

Factual narrative

The crew of American Eagle Flight 3379 was completing the return leg of a scheduled out-and-back trip sequence between Raleigh Durham, North Carolina and Greensboro, North Carolina. The flight was cleared for runway 5 left ILS approach. The crew switched radio frequencies to Raleigh Durham tower, and the local air traffic controller cleared the flight to land at 1832:20 eastern standard time. The aircraft crashed approximately four miles southwest of the runway threshold in a wooded area. The pilot, co-pilot and thirteen passengers were fatally injured, while the other five passengers were seriously injured. A post crash fire was extinguished by the Morrisville Fire Department and other agencies in Wake County. The weather report from Raleigh Durham weather facility at the time of the accident reported the ceiling at 500 feet overcast, 2 miles visibility in light rain and fog, wind 010 degrees at 8 knots, temperature 38 degrees (F), dew point 36 degrees (F), and altimeter 30.31 inches. ADDITIONAL PARTIES INCLUDE: capt Joe Oyler, Allied Pilots Assoc, 2214 Paddock Way, Grand Prairie, TX, 75050; Gary Parham, NATCA, 108 Quail Run Circle, Stockbridge, GA 30281; Tom Knopp, McCauley Propeller, 3535 McCauley Drive, Vandalia, OH 45377 The airplane crashed about 4 miles southwest of the runway 5L threshold during an ILS approach. The captain had associated the illumination of the left engine IGN light, illuminated as a result of a momentary negative torque condition when the propeller speed levers were advanced tp 100% and the power levers were at flight idle, with an engine failure. There was no evidence of an engine failure. The captain failed to follow established procedures for engine failure identification, single engine appoach, single engine go-around, and stall recovery. AMR Eagle training did not adequately address the recognition of engine failure at low power, the aerodynamic effects of asymmetric thrust from a 'windmilling' propeller, and high thrust on the other engine. AMR Eagle and Flagship Airlines crew training records do not provide sufficient detail for management to track performance. Flagship Airlines management was deficient in its knowledge of the types of crew records available, and in the content and use of such records. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12