ATL85FA097

NTSB accident investigation · Beech H18 · Cartersville, GA · February 12, 1985

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
February 12, 1985, 05:10 local (10:10 UTC)
Place
Cartersville, GA
Injuries
1 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N18AWBeech H18
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19850212044649A
Case key
6597

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight encounter with weatherTakeoff
Supervision - inadequateCompany/operator managementFactor
Company-induced pressureCompany/operator managementFactor
Fatigue(flight schedule)Pilot in commandFactor
Lack of total experience in type operationPilot in commandFactor
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Weather condition - cloudsFactor
Terrain condition - snow coveredFactor
Weather condition - snowFactor
Landing lights - improper use ofPilot in commandFactor
Visual/aural perceptionPilot in commandFactor
Loss of control - in flightTakeoff - initial climb
Ifr procedure - not followedPilot in commandCause
Spatial disorientationPilot in commandCause
Aircraft handling - not maintained
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

The flt had not yet been scheduled when the plt retired for the evening at 2230 to 2300 EST. At 0230, he was awoken & notified to make a ngt cargo flt. The owner obtained a wx briefing & filed a flt plan, then briefed the plt later. The plt arrived at the arpt at 0430. He preflighted the acft while the owner updated the wx briefing. The acft was cleared as filed with a clearance void time of 0500; the clearance was radioed to the plt by UNICOM. During takeoff,at 0510, the acft was observed climbing northbound to aprx 800' AGL in moderate snowfall with the landing lgt on. A short time later, the acft crashed aprx 1 mi NE of the arpt while in a steep nose down, rgt wing low attitude. No pre- impact part failure/malfunction was found. Reportedly, when the plt 1st hired on, he exaggerated his flt experience; he had problems with instrument flying & was not scheduled for flts in marginal wx; & he was given extra help. At the time of the acdnt, snw was falling, mixed icing was forcast in clds & there was a SIGMET for mod to svr turbc below 8000'.

Aircraft

Registration
N18AW
Reported as
Beech H18
Category
Airplane
Serial number
BA-644
Airframe hours
6,468
Engine
P&W R-985-14B, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Positioning · Part 91
Registered owner
Phoenix Air, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · January 15, 1985 · 8 hours before
Destination
ATL · Atlanta, GA
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
6A0 · Cartersville-Bartow Co, runway 36, 4,000 × 60 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
41
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
2,313 total · 183 in this make and model · 119 in the last 90 days · 29 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Wind
270° at 10 knots
Visibility
4 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
1,500 ft overcast
Temperature
25 °F, dew point -0 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.