# NTSB ATL92FA033: Beech C23, N9304S, Lineville, AL, December 29, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 29, 1991, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Lineville, AL
- Coordinates: 33.309089, -85.750885 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3091&lon=-85.7509&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8493
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92FA033
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8493/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92FA033

## Probable cause

THE PILOT CONTINUED VFR INTO IMC CONDITIONS WHERE HE COLLIDED WITH TREES AND TERRAIN.  FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE: LOW CLOUDS, OBSCURED TERRAIN, AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PRELFLIGHT PLANNING.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, cruise - normal
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PILOT CALLED THE FSS TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE LOCAL AND DESTINATION WEATHER, BUT DID NOT REQUEST OR RECEIVE A WEATHER BRIEFING.  WHEN TOLD THAT THE WEATHER WOULD REMAIN MARGINAL FOR VFR UNTIL LATER IN THE DAY, HE STATED THAT HE WOULD CALL BACK LATER.  HE DID NOT CALL BACK AND DEPARTED THE AIRPORT WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN.  THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON CHEAHA MOUNTAIN IN A NEAR LEVEL FLIGHT ATTITUDE AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 1,700 FEET.  THE MOUNTAIN WAS REPORTED TO BE OBSCURED IN CLOUDS THROUGHOUT THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT WITH VISIBILITIES REPORTED TO BE FROM ZERO TO 50 FEET IN LIGHT DRIZZLE AND FOG.  INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9304S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9304S-1992-04-17), registration cancelled 1992-04-17, S/N M1631 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C23
- Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: M-1631
- Airframe hours: 3022
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4J 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Henson, Harold V
- Registered owner: Henson, Harold V
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 19, 1991, 77 hours before
- Departed: GAD, GADSDEN, AL
- Destination: TPA, TAMPA, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,020 total, 402 in this make and model, 39 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft broken
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ANB, 7 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 19911229057979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911229057979A), Dec 29, 1991: Beech C23, Lineville, AL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into cloud obscured mountain. Departed into known adverse weather. VFR pilot had no IFR training.

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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