Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 2311

Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 2311 was a regularly scheduled commuter flight in Georgia in the southeastern United States, from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Glynco Jetport (since renamed Brunswick Golden Isles Airport) in Brunswick on April 5, 1991.

The flight, operating a twin-turboprop Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia, crashed north of Brunswick while approaching the airport for landing. All 23 aboard were killed, including astronaut Sonny Carter and former U.S. Senator John Tower.

Four years later, another Embraer Brasilia of ASA crashed in the Georgia countryside in similar circumstances, with nine fatalities.

Flight crew

Captain Mark Friedline, aged 34, had been hired by Atlantic Southeast Airlines ten years earlier in May 1981, and was fully qualified to fly three different commercial aircraft, including the EMB-120. At the time of the accident, he had accumulated an estimated 11,724 total flying hours, of which 5,720 hours were in the EMB-120. Friedline had been involved in the development of the EMB-120, and its introduction to service in the United States, and was trained to fly the aircraft by the manufacturer. An inspector described his knowledge of aircraft systems as "extensive", and his pilot techniques as "excellent".

First Officer Hank Johnston, aged 36, was hired by Atlantic Southeast Airlines in June 1988, and was a qualified flight instructor. Because more than six months had passed since he had undergone an FAA medical inspection and been issued a first-class certificate, it automatically reverted to a second-class certificate, adequate for his duties as a first officer. At the time of the accident, Johnston had accumulated about 3,925 total flying hours, of which 2,795 hours were in the EMB-120.

Accident

On the morning of the accident, the captain and first officer arrived at the Dothan Regional Airport by taxi about 06:15 Eastern Standard Time. The taxi cab driver reported that the crew was in good spirits and readily engaged in conversation. The crew flew first to Atlanta, then performed a round trip to Montgomery, Alabama, before returning to Atlanta. After this round trip, the crew had a scheduled break for around two and a half hours, in which they were described as well-rested and talkative.

Flight 2311 was scheduled initially to be operated by N228AS, another EMB-120. This airplane experienced mechanical problems, so the flight was switched to N270AS. This aircraft had flown four times already on the day of the accident, with no reports of any problems. N270AS departed Atlanta, operating ASA Flight 2311, at 13:47, 23 minutes behind schedule.

Flight 2311 deviated slightly in its flight path to Brunswick to avoid poor weather. Just after 14:48, the flight crew acknowledged to the Jacksonville air route traffic control center that the airport was in sight, and Flight 2311 was subsequently cleared for a visual approach to Glynco Jetport on runway 7, which the flight crew acknowledged.

The last transmission received from Flight 2311 was to the ASA manager at the airport, who reported that the flight made an "in-range call" on the company radio frequency, and that the pilot gave no indication that the flight had any mechanical problems. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft approaching the airport in visual meteorological conditions at a much lower than normal altitude. Several witnesses estimated that the aircraft flew over them at an altitude of 100 to 200 ft above the ground.

According to most of the interviewed witnesses, the airplane suddenly rolled to the left until the wings were perpendicular to the ground. The aircraft then descended in a nose-down attitude and disappeared from sight behind trees near the airport. One witness told investigators that they saw a puff of smoke emanate from the aircraft prior to or subsequent to the airplane rolling to the left. Others reported loud engine noises described as a squeal, whine, or an overspeeding or accelerating engine during the last moments of the flight, although they said that these noises seemed to have stopped, or at least faded before the aircraft impacted with flat ground two miles short of the runway.

One witness interviewed by the NTSB, a pilot driving on a road southwest of the airport, told investigators that he saw the airplane in normal flight at normal altitudes, and that he believed that the approach was not abnormal. The airplane completed a 180° turn from the downwind leg of the approach and continued the turn. He then saw the aircraft pitch slightly, before it rolled to the left until the wings were vertical. The airplane then turned nose-down and smashed into the ground. He saw no fire or smoke during the flight, and he believed both propellers were rotating.

There were 20 passengers on board, including former U.S. Senator John Tower from Texas (head of the Tower Commission for the Iran–Contra affair) and astronaut Manley "Sonny" Carter. All 23 passengers and crew died in the accident.