# NTSB ATL85FA283: Beech D18S, N25Q, Huntington, WV, September 25, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 25, 1985, 05:37 local (09:37 UTC)
- Place: Huntington, WV
- Coordinates: 38.349609, -81.630897 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3496&lon=-81.6309&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6642
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85FA283
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6642/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85FA283

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, circling (ifr)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - air/ground communications - improper use of, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE ACFT CONTACTED THE TERRAIN WITH THE LEFT WING TIP, CARTWHEELED AND CAME TO REST INVERTED DURING AN ILS RWY 12 APCH AT HUNTINGTON (HTS). MINIMUM APCH VISIBILITY FOR THE ILS IS 3/4 OF A MILE. WHILE EN ROUTE THE PLT WAS INFORMED THE HTS VISIBILITY WAS 1/8 OF A MILE. A MISSED APCH WAS PERFORMED ON THE FIRST ILS. DURING THE MISSED APCH CLIMB THE TRANSPONDER CODE IN THE ACFT WAS CHANGED TO 7600. RADAR DATA INDICATED THAT AFTER THE 2ND ILS APCH, THE ACFT MADE A CLIMBING LEFT TURN. WHEN APRX 2 MILES SE OF THE ARPT, AT 2100 FT, THE ACFT MADE A SHARP RIGHT TURN. THE RADAR TARGET DISAPPEARED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE ACFT CONTACTED THE TERRAIN ON A HEADING OF 260 DEGS BETWEEN RWY 30 AND THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N25Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25Q-1988-04-06), registration cancelled 1988-04-06, S/N A823 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D18S
- Registry model: [Beech D18S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d18s) (registry code 1151004) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: A823
- Airframe hours: 9797
- Engines: P&W R-985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Transtar Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: United Leasing Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 26, 1985, 73 hours before
- Departed: IND, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HTS, Tri State Walker Long Fld, runway 12, 6,509 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; airline transport; 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: 3,900 total, 20 in this make and model, 1,800 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 20° at 4 knots
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HTS

## 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 19850925047609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850925047609A), Sep 25, 1985: Beech D18S, Huntington, WV, Destroyed. Improper instrument procedures. Wing tip struck ground while maneuvering in low fog layer after communication loss.

## Other investigations on N25Q (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 CHI67A0079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI67A0079), Dec 19, 1966: Beech D18S (N25Q), Grand Rapids, MI, substantial damage

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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