# NTSB ATL85FA261: Beech C-99, N992SB, Conover, NC, August 28, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 28, 1985, 01:45 local (05:45 UTC)
- Place: Conover, NC
- Coordinates: 35.700248, -81.210105 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7002&lon=-81.2101&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6636
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85FA261
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6636/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85FA261

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - emergency procedure - selected, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - remedial action - not performed, dual student (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, dual student (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - fatigue(flight and ground schedule), pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - supervision - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - complacency, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - fatigue(flight and ground schedule), pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

ACFT WAS ON TRNG FLT FOR INITIAL COPILOT QUAL FOR COMMUTER AIR CARRIER. INSTRUCTOR AND TWO TRAINEES WERE ON BOARD. THE ACFT DEPARTED CHARLOTTE AT ABOUT 2314EDT FOR THE HICKORYAREA FOR TRNG. AT ABOUT 0015EDT,IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE CREW VISITED THE HICKORY FSS. AFTER DEPARTING HICKORY, THE ACFT CLIMBED TO 5500 FT AND REMAINED GENERALLY BETWEEN CHARLOTTE. AT ABOUT 0145EDT, RADAR DATA SHOWED THE ACFT TO BE IN A STEEPNING DESCENT AN GAINING SPEED. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREE LIMBS, A UTILITY POLE AND THE GROUND IN ABOUT 35 ANGLE OF DESCENT IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA OF CONOVER NC. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A NOSE UP TRIM,WHICH WAS APRX 75 PERCENT OF THE AVAILABLE UP-TRIM(3.38 DEGREES UP- NOSE. THIS IS AN ABNORMAL SETTING;SO THE ENTIRE TRIM UNIT WAS RETAINED & SENT TO THE TALLEY CORP FOR DETAILED EXAM. THE RAM END FITTINGS WERE SENT TO GA TECH RESEARCH FOR SURFACE FRACTURE ANALYSIS. THE EXAM SHOWED DUCTILE OVERSTRESS & NO INDICATION OF PRE-CRACKED CONDITION. PITCH TRIM EMERGENCIES ARE A PART OF SUNBIRDS C-99 TRAINING PROGRAM(FIT 1 & 2)

## Aircraft

- Registration: N992SB (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Beech C-99
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: U-170
- Airframe hours: 7651
- Engines: P&W PT6A-36 715 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Sunbird Airline,Inc., doing business as Piedmont Commuter
- Registered owner: Beech Acceptance Corp., Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, August 21, 1985, 35 hours before
- Departed: HKY, HICKORY, NC
- Destination: CLT, CHARLOTTE, NC
- Airport: HKY, Hickory

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,309 total, 950 in this make and model, 45 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HKY

## 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 19850828041509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850828041509A), Aug 28, 1985: Beech C99, Conover, NC, Destroyed. Impacted pole and ground at steep angle. May have been practicing run away trim procedure. No malfunction found.

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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