# NTSB ATL89FA171: Dassault-Breguet Falcon 20, N125CA, Cartersville, GA, June 29, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 29, 1989, 00:04 local (04:04 UTC)
- Place: Cartersville, GA
- Coordinates: 34.160823, -84.799591 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1608&lon=-84.7996&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7902
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89FA171
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7902/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA171

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) TO ASSURE THAT THE AIRCRAFT MAINTAINED A CLIMB PROFILE AFTER TAKEOFF. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  DARK NIGHT, THE CREW'S LACK OF VISUAL PERCEPTION AT NIGHT, THE PIC'S LACK OF REST (FATIGUE), AND THE COPILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN REMEDIAL ACTION.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, takeoff
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - climb - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fatigue(lack of sleep), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - not attained, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)
  - object - electrical tower
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff

## Analysis

THE CREW ARRIVED AT THE ARPT ABOUT 20 MIN BEFORE THE PLANNED MIDNIGHT TAKEOFF TIME, AFTER THE PLT-IN-COMMAND HAD SPENT THE DAY MOVING FURNITURE.  A NGT WATCHMAN NOTED THAT THE PREFLT INSPN & TAKEOFF ROLL TO ROTATION/LIFT-OFF WAS NORMAL.  THERE WAS NO POST-TAKEOFF RADIO CALL TO EITHER UNICOM OR ATC, ATHOUGH THE CREW HAD FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN. AFTER TAKING OFF FROM RWY 36, THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 1.8 MI NORTH OF THE RWY.  THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND AFTER INTERRUPTIONOF ELECTRICAL POWER TO A NEARBY CITY.  INITIAL IMPACT WAS WITH TREES, WHILE IN A SHALLOW/LEFT/DESCENDING TURN.  AN AREA OF TREES ABOUT 1/2 MI LONG WAS DAMAGED BY IMPACT & FIRE.  BEFORE COMING TO REST, THE ACFT HIT A POWERLINE SUPPORT TOWER.  THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE ACFT WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 260 KTS, WHEN IT CRASHED.  NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE ACDNT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N125CA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N125CA-1990-06-18), registration cancelled 1990-06-18, S/N 208 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DASSAULT-BREGUET FALCON 20
- Registry model: [Dassault-Breguet FALCON 20](https://openairdocs.org/model/dassault-breguet-falcon-20) (registry code 2730103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 208
- Airframe hours: 13547
- Engines: GE CF700-2D2 4500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Phoenix Air Group, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, April 1, 1989, 164 hours before
- Departed: 6A0
- Destination: MGM, MONTGOMERY, AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 6A0, Cartersville, runway 36, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 7,940 total, 770 in this make and model, 5,820 as pilot in command, 196 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FTY, 20 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 19890629018119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890629018119A), Jun 29, 1989: Amd FALCON200, Carterville, GA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Collided with rising terrain after takeoff on positioning flight.

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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