# NTSB ATL85FA097: Beech H18, N18AW, Cartersville, GA, February 12, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 12, 1985, 05:10 local (10:10 UTC)
- Place: Cartersville, GA
- Coordinates: 34.159748, -84.799003 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1597&lon=-84.7990&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6597
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85FA097
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6597/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85FA097

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff
  - supervision - inadequate, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - company-induced pressure, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - fatigue(flight schedule), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - landing lights - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH H18
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BA-644
- Airframe hours: 6468
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 41; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850212044649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850212044649A), Feb 12, 1985: Beech H18, Cartersville, GA, Destroyed. Aircraft collided with ground shortly after takeoff. Dark night with snow falling. Landing light on during climb.

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.

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