# NTSB ATL85LA086: Beech E18S, N95HA, Huntington, WV, February 1, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 31, 1985, 20:45 local (Feb 1, 1985, 01:45 UTC)
- Place: Huntington, WV
- Coordinates: 38.409549, -82.430572 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4095&lon=-82.4306&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6738
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85LA086
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6738/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA086

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - ice/frost removal from aircraft - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper assistance - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - snow covered
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - vehicle

## Analysis

3-4 INCH SNOW ACCUMULATION ON ACFT PRIOR TO FLT. PLT SAID HE SWEPT SNOW OFF EXCEPT AN AREA HE COULD NOT REACH. HEAVY SNOWFALL, WET SNOW REPORTED AS ACFT WAS PREPARED FOR DEPARTURE, DRG RUNUP, TAXI AND TAKEOFF. PLT ADVISED BY TOWER THAT VISIBILITY WAS 1/8 MILE WITH FOG AND SNOW. PUBLISHED TKOF MINIMUM FOR FAR 135 OPN WAS 1/2 MILE. AFTER RIKING SNOWPLOW LOCATED 150 FEET LEFT OF RWY. ACFT CONTINUED OVER EMBANKMENT AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. ICE AND SNOW FND ON UPPER TAIL SURFACE. ELEVATOR TRIM INDICATED FULL NOSE DN. AILERON TRIM IND LEFT BANK. WITNESSES SAID ENGS SOUNDED NORMAL, LDG LIGHTS ON, 600 FEET VISIBILITY FROM POSITION OF SNOWPLOW. PLT SAID 35 INCHES MAP WHEN DESCENDING. MAP INCREASED WITH ADDITIONAL THROTTLE. NO ENGINE ROUGHNESS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N95HA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH E18S
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BA-148
- Airframe hours: 5877
- Engines: P&W R-985-AN14B 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Hogan Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1985, 65 hours before
- Departed: HTS, HUNTINGTON, WV
- Destination: SDF, LOUISVILLE, KY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HTS, Tri State Airport, runway 12, 6,509 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,022 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 6,802 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 10° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 125 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19850131002819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850131002819A), Jan 31, 1985: Beech E18S, Huntington, WV, Destroyed. Wing struck snowplow on ramp at end of runway after liftoff. Aircraft would not climb due to snow on airframe.

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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