# Accident 19980320004009A: Beech A36, New Lebanon, IN, March 20, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 20, 1998, 20:05 local time
- Place: New Lebanon, IN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.0409° N, 87.4713° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of New Lebanon, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0409&lon=-87.4713&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1812A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1812A-2017-04-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech A36 (registry code 1151604, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Reported engine: CONT IO520BB
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- Pilot flight hours: 436 total, 220 in this make and model, 71 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98FA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98FA107) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980320004009A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(TTY) PILOT REQUESTED TO LAND AT TERRE HAUTE ADVISED THE ACFT WAS PICKING UP ICE, ALL 4 POB SUFERED FATAL INJ. (.4)THE WEATHER BRIEF TO THE PILOT INDICATED AN AIRMET WAS IN EFFECT FOR 'OCCASIONAL TO MODERATE RIME OR MIXED ICING ALONG THE ENTIRE ROUTE OF FLIGHT.'  THE BRIEFER REPORTED TO THE PILOT, '... WHAT YOU'LL BE ENCOUNTERING AFFECTING YOUR ROUTE OF FLIGHT IS THE WRAP-AROUND EFFECT ON THAT LOW PRESSURE.' AT 1949, THE PILOT REQUESTED TO DESCEND FROM 4,000 FEET TO 3,000 MSL.  AT 1952, THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRPLANE WAS ACCUMULATING ICE, BUT DID NOT THINK HE COULD SHED IT.  HE REQUESTED TO DEVIATE TO TERRE HAUTE.  THE AIRPLANE WAS CLEARED TO DESCEND TO 2,500 FEET MSL.  AT 2001, THE PILOT REPORTED LOSING AIRSPEED AND REQUESTED TO LAND AT A CLOSER AIRPORT.  WHILE ON APPROACH, THE PILOT REPORTED, 'HECK, WE'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE RIGHT NOW....'  THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A FARM FIELD AT NIGHT, AT A SHALLOW ANGLE OF DESCENT, WITH THE LANDING GEAR DOWN.  THE AIRPLANE WINGS IMPACTED TREES AND THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE.  ENGINE AND FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WERE CONFIRMED.                                                                                                                 (-23) ON MARCH 20, 1998, AT APPROXIMATELY 2005 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A BEECH A-36, N1812A, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED TERRAIN FIVE MILES SOUTH OF THE SULLIVAN COUNTY AIRPORT, SULLIVAN, INDIANA. THE PILOT REPORTED TO TERRE HAUTE APPROACH CONTROL THAT HE WAS PICKING UP ICE AND WANTED TO LAND AT TERRE HAUTE.  THE PILOT LATER REQUESTED A CLOSER AIRPORT AND WAS BEING RADAR VECTORED FOR AN APPROACH INTO SULLIVAN COUNTY.  THE INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT PRIVATE PILOT, SECOND PILOT, AND PASSENGERS RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI98FA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98FA107), Mar 21, 1998: Beech A-36 (N1812A), New Lebanon, IN, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's flight into known icing conditions. Contributing factors were the degraded aircraft performance, the pilot's inability to maintain the proper descent rate, trees, and the dark night…

## Other reports on N1812A (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19820722055299I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820722055299I), Jul 22, 1982: Beech A36 (N1812A), Van Nuys, CA, Minor damage. Lost oil pressure and prop overspeed shortly after takeoff. Landed in a field. Oil filter adapter cracked. Lost oil

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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