# NTSB ATL88LA099: Beech 18S, N1480K, Morganton, NC, February 24, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 24, 1988, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Morganton, NC
- Coordinates: 35.740379, -81.689468 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7404&lon=-81.6895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7711
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88LA099
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7711/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA099

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - wind information - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted

## Analysis

PIC ABORTED FIRST TAKEOFF ATTEMPT DUE TO CROSSWIND INDUCED DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DIFFICULTIES. DURING SECOND TAKEOFF ATTEMPT, GUSTY CROSSWIND LIFTED LEFT WING & ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE. PIC FORCED ACFT BACK ONTO RWY, LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND VEERED OFF RWY FIRST TO LEFT SIDE THEN ACROSS RWY TO RIGHT SIDE. ACFT WAS LOADED AT AFT CG LIMIT. CROSSWIND WAS 50-70 DEGREES OFF OF DIRECT HEADWIND WITH THE RPTED GUSTS EXCEEDING CROSSWIND LIMITS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1480K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1480K), registered now, S/N BA-601, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 18S
- Registry model: [Beech G18S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-g18s) (registry code 1151010) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BA 601
- Airframe hours: 4922
- Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Saber Aviation, Inc., doing business as Saber Cargo Airlines
- Registered owner: Saber Aviation, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MRN
- Destination: FWA, FT WAYNE, IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MRN, Morganton-Lenoir, runway 3, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 3,353 total, 393 in this make and model, 2,362 as pilot in command, 208 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 13 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HKY, 15 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 19880224003939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880224003939A), Feb 24, 1988: Beech G18S, Morganton, NC, Substantial damage. Aborted crosswind takeoff twice,then lost control. Plane veered off runway. Ground looped and skidded into a ravine.

## Other investigations on N1480K (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 FTW76AF004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76AF004), Jul 15, 1975: Beech G18S (N1480K), Dallas, TX, 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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