# NTSB ATL88FA067: Beech B23, N6571R, Crossville, TN, December 24, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 24, 1987, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Crossville, TN
- Coordinates: 36.429241, -84.929016 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4292&lon=-84.9290&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7575
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88FA067
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7575/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88FA067

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

N6571R CRASHED INTO TREES NEAR THE VOR ON TOP ON HINCH MTN AT ABOUT 3000 FEET MSL. TREES AT THE CRASH SITE INDICATED WINGS LEVEL WITH A DESCENT ANGLE OF ABOUT 10 DEGREES. WEATHER IN THE AREA WAS IMC, CHARACTERIZED BY LOW CEILINGS (LOWER THAN THE MTN TOP ELEVATION), RAIN AND FOG. THE PILOT HAD REFUELED AT LIVINGSTON, TN EN ROUTE TO FLORIDA. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT BLUFTON, OH. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE WEATHER WAS GETTING UNFAVORABLE AND HE MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN. HE ALSO REPORTED, AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE POWER. A TREELIMB WITH 2 PROPELLER SLASHES INDICATED SUBSTANTIAL ENGINE RMP AT TREE CONTACT. THE PLT PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE 4 MOS BEFORE THE ACDT AND REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE IN NOV 87. HIS FAMILY SAID HE HAD FLOWN THE AIRPLANE ABOUT 7 HOURS AFTERWARD, BEFORE THIS FLT. THE PLT HELD A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE AND WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. THE PILOT HAD NOT FILED A FLT PLAN AND THERE WAS NO RECORD OF RADIO CONTACTS DRG THE FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6571R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6571R-1993-10-27), registration cancelled 1993-10-27, S/N M1597 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B23
- Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: M1597
- Airframe hours: 2547
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4J 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Daniel L. Deats
- Registered owner: Daniel L Deats Sr
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 30, 1987, 45 hours before
- Departed: 8A3, LIVINGSTON, TN
- Destination: X60, WILLISTON, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,600 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CSV, 12 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 19871224071739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871224071739A), Dec 24, 1987: Beech C23, Crossville, TN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into trees in mountainous area in IMC. Was trying to make a 180 and clear clouds. No weather briefing.

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.