# NTSB ATL88FA020: Beech B24R, N6542R, Louisville, KY, October 24, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 24, 1987, 07:31 local (11:31 UTC)
- Place: Louisville, KY
- Coordinates: 38.220226, -85.680557 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2202&lon=-85.6806&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7562
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88FA020
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7562/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88FA020

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - initial climb
  - door,passenger - open (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DRG TKOF FM RWY 19, THE PLT TRANSMITTED 'WE HAVE A DOOR OPEN.'  TWR PSNL CLRD HIM TO LND ON ANY RWY, BUT HE STATED AGAINTHAT A DOOR WAS OPEN. AGAIN, TWR PSNL CLRD HIM TO LND ON ANY RWY. NO OTR RADIO CALLS WERE RECD FM THE ACFT. SVRL PERSONSSAW THE ACFT AT LOW ALT BFR IT ENTERED A STEEP TURN TWD RWY 24. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT HIT A TREETOP, CRASHED WITH THE FLAPS RETRACTED & CAME TO REST APRX 300 YDS FM THE THE RWY THRESHOLD. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE UTILITY & LEFT CABIN DOORS WERE CLOSED DRG IMPACT. HOWEVER, THE RGT CABIN DOOR WAS FND WEDGED UNDER THE RGT WING WITH LITTLE DEFORMATION. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND DRG THE INVESTIGATION. TESTS SHOWED THE FLT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ACFT WERE UNCHGD WITH AN OPEN DOOR; HOWEVER, THE FLT MANUAL RECOMMENDED USING SHALLOW BANK TURNS, CAUTIONED ABOUT POSSIBLE BUFFETING & A SLIGHT INCREASE IN DRAG, & WARNED NOT TO ALLOW THE AIRSPEED TO DROP BELOW THE RECOMMENDED SPEED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6542R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6542R-1989-01-11), registration cancelled 1989-01-11, S/N MC281 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B24R
- Registry model: [Beech B24R](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b24r) (registry code 1151253) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: MC281
- Airframe hours: 2785
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Paul Pullen
- Registered owner: Rdg Financial Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 25, 1987, 28 hours before
- Departed: BOW
- Destination: AHN, ATHENS, GA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: LOU, Bowman Field, runway 24, 4,312 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 152 total, 67 in this make and model, 98 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LOU, 5 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 19871024060409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871024060409A), Oct 24, 1987: Beech B24R, Louisville, KY, Substantial damage, 3 fatal. Reported a door came open after takeoff. Made tight circle to land on another runway. Hit a tree and crashed.

## Other investigations on N6542R (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 NYC77IA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC77IA057), May 14, 1977: Beech 24R (N6542R), Millville, NJ, incident, minor 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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