# NTSB ATL89FA165: Beech B-60, N78TW, Gaston, SC, June 20, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 20, 1989, 16:42 local (20:42 UTC)
- Place: Gaston, SC
- Coordinates: 33.810348, -81.099723 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8103&lon=-81.0997&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7899
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89FA165
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7899/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA165

## Probable cause

THE PILOT EXERCISED QUESTIONABLE JUDGEMENT IN INITIATING A FLIGHT INTO AN AREA OF KNOWN THUNDERSTORMS. FURTHER, EITHER DELIBERATELY OR INADVERTANTLY ENTERED A THUNDERSTORM AND OVERSTRESSED THE AIRFRAME STRUCTURE RESULTING IN AN INFLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE AERODYNAMIC SURFACES.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise
  - weather condition - thunderstorm,level iii
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command
  - in flight weather avoidance assistance - not used, pilot in command
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled
  - remedial action - not performed, pilot in command
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER OBTAINING A WEATHER BRIEFING IN WHICH HE WAS INFORMED OF THUNDERSTORMS AND CURRENT SIGMETS FOR HIS INTENDED ROUTE OF FLIGHT, THE PILOT ELECTED TO DEPART HIS HOME AIRPORT ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT. AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE, WITNESSES INDICATED THE PRESENCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT. AFTER TRYING TO OBTAIN HIS IFR CLEARANCE FROM CHARLOTTE, THE PILOT WAS ISSUED HIS IFR CLEARANCE WHEN APPROACHING COLUMBIA, SC. THE PILOT HAD DEVIATED AROUND AT LEAST ONE THUNDERSTORM WHILE APPROACHING COLUMBIA. THE PILOT HAD BEEN CLEARED TO CLIMB TO HIS REQUESTED ALTITUDE OF 17,000 FEET AND HAD REACHED 16,400 WHEN THE RADAR RETURN WAS OBSERVED TO INDICATE A DESCENT AND THEN WAS LOST. WITNESSES ON THE GROUND REPORTED SEEING THE AIRPLANE EXIT THE CLOUDS IN FLAMES. THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE HORIZONTAL TAIL HAD SEPARATED FOLLOWED BY THE WINGS AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE AIRPLANE. NO EVIDENCE OF SEPARATION DUE TO STRUCTURAL WEAKENING FROM HEATING WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N78TW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78TW-1991-02-06), registration cancelled 1991-02-06, S/N P445 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B-60
- Registry model: [Beech B-60](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b-60) (registry code 1153605) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P-445
- Airframe hours: 1669
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-5410E1C4 380 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Both
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Maurice J. Walsh, III
- Registered owner: Maurice J Walsh, III
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 13, 1989, 21 hours before
- Departed: 0A6, GASTONIA, NC
- Destination: FPR, FORT PIERCE, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CAE, Columbia Metro

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,290 total, 26 in this make and model, 1,010 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CAE, 9 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 19890620016269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890620016269A), Jun 20, 1989: Beech B60, Columbia, SC, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Departed into area of severe thunderstorms. Structural analysis indicative of overstress. Wing spar breaks.

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.