# NTSB ATL05FA010: Beech B-55, N322WW, Atlanta, GA, October 19, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: October 19, 2004, 10:54 local (14:54 UTC) - Place: Atlanta, GA - Coordinates: 33.766666, -84.416664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7667&lon=-84.4167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO 11, Ratheon / Beech Aircraft, Teledyne Continental - NTSB case key (mKey): 60392 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05FA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60392/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05FA010 ## Probable cause The pilot initiated flight into known adverse weather conditions (thunderstorms), which resulted in a loss of control, and subsequent in-flight collision with the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - thunderstorm (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot received a weather briefing informing him of adverse weather conditions (thunderstorms) in the area of his flight. The pilot departed the airport, and was asked to climb to 5000 feet due to the weather conditions. During the climb out the pilot reported that he was in trouble, and shortly afterward, radio and radar contact was lost. The airplane was seen spinning out of the clouds in a flat attitude. The airplane collided with ground and a post crash fire ensued. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical or flight control problems. A Convective SIGMET (43E) issued at 0855 for an area approximately 15 miles northwest of the accident location. The Convective SIGMET, which was valid until 1055, noted an area of severe thunderstorms moving from 270-degrees at 20 knots, with tops to 45,000 feet. The SIGMET also indicated that the southern portion of this complex was moving from 300-degrees at 25 knots. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 19, 2004 at 1054 eastern daylight time, a twin engine Beech Baron B-55, N322WW, registered to and operated by J&R Aircraft Inc., collided with the ground and burst into flames in front of an automotive repair shop near the Martin Luther King Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The instrument rated private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The personal flight departed DeKalb-Peachtree (PDK) Airport in Chamblee, Georgia on October 19, 2004 at 1045. According to the Atlanta Approach Control transcripts, at 0853, the pilot telephoned the Macon Automated Flight Service Station preflight 05 to file an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan from DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, Georgia, to Venice Airport (VNC), Florida. The flight plan was filed and the pilot asked for an abbreviated weather briefing. He stated, "That he had been looking at the RADAR and it didn't look too bad to him." The weather briefing was provided to the pilot. At 0917, the pilot radioed PDK ground control for an IFR clearance to the VNC airport. The clearance was issued and the pilot read back the clearance. After the pilot completed the run-up, an IFR release was received by PDK tower from Atlanta Approach Control with a good rate of climb to 5000 feet and a heading of 230 degrees. The pilot was advised to expect a good rate of climb due to weather. At 0947, Atlanta Approach advised the pilot to give his best rate of climb to five thousand in order to cross over the Atlanta International Airport; the pilot responded that he was trying. Atlanta Approach issued a heading of 190 degrees and a frequency change. The pilot acknowledged the instructions, and turned to the east. At 0950, the pilot radioed Atlanta Approach control: "we're in trouble"; the controller cleared the pilot to fly any heading needed. At 0951, Atlanta Approach transmitted to the pilot to fly westbound to get out of the weather, and the pilot did not respond. The pilot's position was broadcasted several times with no response from the pilot. At 0957, Approach Control lost radio and radar contact with the flight, and the last recorded altitude was fifteen hundred feet. Witnesses in the vicinity of the accident site reported seeing the airplane spinning out of the clouds in a flat attitude. The downed airplane was located on a residential street in the downtown area of Atlanta, Georgia. A review of weather data and witness reports reveal that low clouds, fog, heavy rain and thunderstorm activity were in the area at the time of the accident. PERSONNEL INFORMATION Review of the pilot's flight records revealed, he was issued a private pilot certificate on May 26, 1977, with airplane single and multiengine- engine land and an instrument rating. The pilot's logbooks were not recovered. Review of records showed that the last reported total flight time was 4050 hours, and an undetermined amount of flight hours in type, and model and make. The private pilot held a third class medical certificate dated October 6, 2004, and valid when wearing corrective lenses. Review of the pilot's flight instructor's records revealed that the last flight review was on August 11, 2004. The last endorsement for instrument proficiency was completed on June 10, 2004. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION Review of aircraft maintenance logbooks indicated that the last recorded altimeter, static, and transponder system checks were completed on December 19, 2003. The last annual airframe inspection was conducted on October 1, 2003. The Hobbs time, and total time on airframe and propeller at the annual inspection was 2472.9 hours. Review of the left and right engine logbooks revealed the last annual inspection was completed on October 1, 2003. Review of the left and right engine logbooks revealed that the total time on the engines, and time since major overhaul was 1225.9. Review of the propeller logbook revealed that the total time on the propeller, and time since major overhaul was 1225.9. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The three closest automated surface observing systems (ASOS) to the accident location were located at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Fulton County Airport-Brown Field, and DeKalb-Peachtree Airport. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta ASOS (KATL) was approximately 8 miles away from the accident site at 189 degrees, the DeKalb-Peachtree ASOS (KPDK) was 10 miles away at 43 degrees, and the Fulton County ASOS (KFTY) was 5 miles west of the accident site. Data from each of these stations surrounding the time of the accident is provided below. DeKalb-Peachtree at 0953, (METAR); wind.30o at 8 knots; visibility.2 miles; weather. Heavy rain and mist; sky condition. Scattered at 1,100 feet, broken at 2,400 feet, and overcast at 4,400 feet; temperature.18oC; dew point temperature.17oC; altimeter setting.30.00 in Hg; Remarks. Rain began at 0923. At 1001Z (SPECI); wind.20o at 3 knots; visibility.4 miles; weather. Moderate rain and mist; sky condition. Few at 1,100 feet, broken at 3,400 feet, and overcast at 4,600 feet; temperature.18oC; dew point temperature.17oC; altimeter setting.30.01 in Hg. Fulton County-Brown Field at 0953 (METAR); wind.320o at 6 knots; visibility.2 miles; weather. Heavy rain and mist; sky condition. Broken at 800 feet, broken at 1,400, and overcast at 3,300 feet; temperature.18oC; dew point temperature.17oC; altimeter setting.30.01 in Hg; Remarks. Rain began at 0948. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International at 0951 (METAR); wind.190o at 9 knots; visibility.6 miles; weather. Mist; sky condition. Broken at 1,100 feet, broken at 1,500 feet, and overcast at 6,500 feet; temperature.19oC; dew point temperature.18oC; altimeter setting.30.00 in Hg. At 0958 (SPECI); wind.200o at 8 knots; visibility.5 miles; weather. Light rain and mist; sky condition. Broken at 900 feet, broken at 1,000 feet, and overcast at 1,500 feet; temperature.19oC; dew point temperature.18oC; altimeter setting.29.99 in Hg; Remarks. Rain began at 0956. The National Weather Service issues in-flight weather advisories designated as Convective SIGMETs, SIGMETs, and AIRMETs. In-flight advisories serve to notify enroute pilots of the possibility of encountering hazardous flying conditions, which may not have been forecast at the time of a preflight briefing. At the time of the accident, there were two valid AIRMETs that included the accident location. AIRMET Sierra, issued at 0845 for Instrument Flight Rule conditions and mountain obscuration, indicated occasional ceilings below 1,000 feet and visibilities below 3 statute miles in precipitation, fog, and mist. The second AIRMET (Zulu), which was also issued at 0845, forecasted the presence of occasional moderate rime or mixed icing in cloud and precipitation between the freezing level and 20,000 feet, with the freezing level beginning at 9,000 feet in the north and sloping to 13,000 feet in the south. Both of the aforementioned AIRMETs were valid until 1500 on the day of the accident. Finally, AIRMET Tango bordered the area of the accident location and suggested occasional moderate turbulence below 10,000 feet. This AIRMET was also issued at 0845 and valid until 1500. A Convective SIGMET (43E) issued at 0855 included an area roughly 15 miles northwest of the accident location. The Convective SIGMET, which was valid until 1055, noted an area of severe thunderstorms moving from 270o at 20 knots, with tops to 45,000 feet. The SIGMET also indicated that the southern portion of this complex was moving from 300o at 25 knots. Further, the SIGMET pointed out the possibility of tornadoes, 1-inch hail, and wind gusts to 50 knots. At 0955, Convective SIGMET (46E) was issued, and th ## Aircraft - Registration: [N322WW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N322WW-2008-07-10), registration cancelled 2008-07-10, S/N TC-2224, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech B-55 - Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TC-2224 - Airframe hours: 2472.9 - Engines: Continental IO-470-L 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: J & R Aircraft Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2003 - Departed: KPDK, Chamblee, GA - Destination: KVNC, Venice, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PDK, Dekalb-Peachtree ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2004; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,050 total, 61 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 8 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KPDK, 7 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20041019034059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041019034059A), Oct 19, 2004: Beech 95B55, Atlanta, GA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. (-23) Aircraft departed pdk southbound to venice, fla (vnc). Approximately 7 miles south of pdk the pilot reported that he was in "trouble". The controller… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.