# NTSB ATL89FA213: Beech 100, N887PE, Mayfield, KY, September 16, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 15, 1989, 21:10 local (Sep 16, 1989, 02:10 UTC)
- Place: Mayfield, KY
- Coordinates: 36.729534, -88.640327 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7295&lon=-88.6403&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7918
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89FA213
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7918/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA213

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW IFR PROCEDURES AND MAINTAIN THE MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE (MDA).  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  DARKNESS, THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE TREE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - minimum descent altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING ARRIVAL, THE FLT WAS ISSUED THE CURRENT PADUCAH ALTIMETER SETTING. THE PLT REQUESTED VECTORS FOR AN APCH TO RWY 18, BUT THE ARTCC CONTROLLER (CTLR) COULD NOT ACCOMMODATE THE REQUEST. THE PLT WAS CLRD FOR A VOR/DME-A APCH. MDA FOR THE APCH WAS 1080' MSL (600' AGL). AT 2108 CDT, THE FLT CHGD TO THE FBO FREQ. FBO PSNL OBSERVED THE ACFT FLY OVER THE ARPT & ADZD THAT IT WAS TOO LOW. ONE OF THE PLTS REPLIED THAT THEY WOULD BE 'STAYING UNDER THE CLOUDS.'  THE PLTS HAD PLANNED TO LAND ON RWY 36, BUT RPRTD THEY LOST SIGHT OF THE RWY & WOULD CHANGE TO RWY 18. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE ABOUT 1 MI NNE OF THE ARPT, WHILE ON A WESTERLY HDG (APRX PSN OF BASE LEG FOR A VFR PATTERN). THE ACFT CAME TO REST ABT 700' WEST OF THE TREE & WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT & FIRE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FND. APRX 30 MI WEST AT PADUCAH, THE WX WAS IN PART: 200' SCATTERED, 900' OVC VIS 3 MI WITH RAIN & FOG, WND FM 360 DEG AT 7 KTS. THE ARPT MANAGER ESTIMATED THERE WAS A 200' CEILING AT THE ARPT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N887PE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N887PE-1990-07-16), registration cancelled 1990-07-16, S/N B49 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 100
- Registry model: [Beech 100](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-100) (registry code 1152916) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: B-49
- Airframe hours: 9386
- Engines: P&W PT6-28 680 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: James Holmes
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 20, 1989, 30 hours before
- Departed: ORL, ORLANDO, FL
- Destination: M25
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: M25, Mayfield Graves County, runway 18, 4,625 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 400 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 900 ft overcast
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PAH, 30 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 19890915035049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890915035049A), Sep 15, 1989: Beech 100BEECH, Mayfield, KY, Destroyed, 6 fatal. Struck a tree and crashed circling airport at night in fog, rain, and low clouds.

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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