# NTSB ATL85LA258: Beech C23, N6975R, Clarksburg, WV, August 24, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 24, 1985, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Clarksburg, WV
- Coordinates: 39.279979, -80.329353 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2800&lon=-80.3294&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6862
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85LA258
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6862/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA258

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - low pass - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - ground (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT RAN INTO LESS THAN VFR WEATHER AND TURNED AROUND AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN AIRPORT. HE BECAME BOXED IN BY WEATHER ALL AROUND AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON THE HIGHWAY. HE DID NOT MAKE A PSS OVER HIS INTENDED LANDING AREA. WHEN HE WAS ON SHORT FINAL, A CAR PULLED OUT OF A SIDE ROAD AHEAD OF HIM. HE PULLED UP AND HIT SOME POWER TRANSMISSION LINES WITH THE RIGHT WING. HE CRASH LANDED ON THE ROAD AND SLID INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE ARCRAFT CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6975R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6975R-1986-05-23), registration cancelled 1986-05-23, S/N M-1586, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C23
- Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: M-1586
- Airframe hours: 3581
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4J 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: C.M. Collins
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 5, 1985, 60 hours before
- Departed: 4G7, FAIRMONT, WV
- Destination: 3G6, CANTON, OH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 141 total, 25 in this make and model, 121 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CKB, 8 nm away

## 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 19850824043859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850824043859A), Aug 24, 1985: Beech C23, Salem, WV, Destroyed. On landing due to weather,struck power lines. Trying to avoid a car. Then fell to the highway and hit a guardrail.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.