# NTSB ATL92FA024: Cessna 208B, N951FE, Destin, FL, November 16, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 16, 1991, 06:10 local (12:10 UTC)
- Place: Destin, FL
- Coordinates: 30.399629, -86.489532 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3996&lon=-86.4895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 9, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8488
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92FA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8488/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92FA024

## Probable cause

THE PILOTS FAILURE TO FOLLOW INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES PROCEDURES BY DISREGARDING THE MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE FOR THE APPROACH AND FAILING TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE TERRAIN. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S OVER CONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - fog
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - minimum descent altitude - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT CTCD APCH CTL & WAS GIVEN THE WX AS SKY PTLY OBSCD, CEILING 100 FT, VIS 1/16 MI WITH FOG, WIND CALM. THE PLT THEN REQUESTED A SURVEILLANCE RADAR APCH TO RWY 14, TO BE FLWD BY A SURVEILLANCE APCH TO RWY 32, IN THE EVENT OF A MISSED APCH FROM RWY 14. THE PUBLISHED APCH MINIMUMS WERE 1-1/4 MI VIS, CEILING 460 FT MSL (438 FT AGL). THE RADAR CTLR OBSERVED AN ALT READOUT THAT WAS BELOW THE PUBLISHED MINIMUMS & ADZD THE PLT TO EXECUTE A MISSED APCH. NO RESPONSE WAS RCVD FROM THE PLT. THE ACFT WAS FND FLOATING IN THE BAY APRX 2 MI FORM THE END OF THE RWY. ANOTHER PLT (BASED AT THE SAME FACILITY) STATED THAT THE TWO PLTS HAD, ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, ATTEMPTED THE APCH AT TIMES WHEN THE WX WAS RPRTD TO BE LESS THAN THAT REQUIRED FOR THE APCH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N951FE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N951FE-1992-01-06), registration cancelled 1992-01-06, S/N 208B0058 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 208B
- Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 208B0058
- Airframe hours: 4247
- Engines: P&W PT6A-114 600 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Baron Aviation Services Inc.
- Registered owner: Federal Express Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, November 1, 1991, 49 hours before
- Departed: MEM, MEMPHIS, TN
- Destination: 81J, DESTIN, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 81J, Destin Ft. Walton, runway 14, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 12,400 total, 2,142 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 275 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft broken
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VPS, 4 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 19911116052009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911116052009A), Nov 16, 1991: Cessna 208B, Destin, FL, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Flew into water on final approach. Weather was below minimums. May have mistook lighted barges for runway lights.

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.