# NTSB ATL89LA068: Beech B-90, N784K, Paducah, KY, January 8, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 7, 1989, 19:35 local (Jan 8, 1989, 01:35 UTC)
- Place: Paducah, KY
- Coordinates: 37.069976, -88.630973 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0700&lon=-88.6310&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7975
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89LA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7975/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA068

## Probable cause

PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE WHILE MANEUVERING TO LAND. PROBABLE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE INOPERATIVE WEATHER RADAR, THUNDERSTORMS, LIGHTNING, AN UNDETERMINED ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, DARK NIGHT, THE PILOT'S IMPROPERLY PLANNED APPROACH AND VISUAL PERCEPTION, AND THE TREES.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - flight/nav instruments,weather radar system - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - lightning (contributing factor)
  - electrical system - undetermined (contributing factor)
  - fuel system,electric boost pump - inoperative
- In flight collision with object, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - initiated
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DRG A RTRN FLT AT NGT TO DECATUR, AL, THE PLT NOTED HIS WX RADAR WAS INOP. HE VISUALLY AVOIDED THUNDERSTORMS (TSTMS), WHICH HAD BEEN FORECASTED. WHILE AVOIDING TSTMS, HE NOTED A REDUCTION IN ENG POWER, A SLIGHT YAW, INDCNS OF FUEL FLOW IRREGULARITY & THAT THE LEFT & RGT BOOST PUMPS WERE INOP. THESE OCCURRED AT ABOUT THE TIME, HE SAW A WHITE ARC WHICH HE SAID HAD JUMPED FROM THE PROP, SPINNER OR NACELLE AREA TO THE ACFT'S NOSE. DUE TO THE WX, HE ELECTED TO DIVERT TO PADUCAH. AFTER THE ARPT WAS IN SIGHT, HE NEEDED TO LOSE ALT BEFORE LANDING & WAS CLEARED TO MAKE A 360 DEG TURN. WHILE TURNING, HE LOST SIGHT OF THE ARPT, THEN ROLLED OUT ON THE WRONG HEADING & STARTED FLYING TOWARD A STROBE LIGHT AT AN INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. WHEN HE REALIZED HIS ERROR & SAW THE ARPT, HE TURNED TOWARD THE RWY; BUT AS HE WAS MANEUVERING, THE ACFT LOST ALT, HIT TREES & CRASHED. AN EXAM OF THE ENGS & FUEL PUMPS REVEALED NO INDCN OF A PREIMPACT FAILURE. NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF A LIGHTNING STRIKE WAS FOUND, BUT THE NOSE & ENGS WERE BADLY DAMAGED FROM IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N784K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N784K-1989-03-15), registration cancelled 1989-03-15, S/N LJ427 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B-90
- Registry model: [Beech B90](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b90) (registry code 1152912) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LJ-427
- Airframe hours: 5293
- Engines: P&W PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Merrill L. Walker
- Registered owner: Eng. & Manufacturing Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 2, 1987, 114 hours before
- Departed: SDA, SHENANDOAH, IA
- Destination: DCU, DECATUR, AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PAH, Barkley Regional, runway 22, 6,500 × 150 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,061 total, 115 in this make and model, 1,009 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 220° at 22 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PAH, 1 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 19890107000309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890107000309A), Jan 7, 1989: Beech B90, Paducah, KY, Substantial damage. Struck trees while turning to realign with runway on go around.

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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