# NTSB ATL92MA118: Beech C99, N118GP, Anniston, AL, June 8, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report
- Date: June 8, 1992, 08:53 local (13:53 UTC)
- Place: Anniston, AL
- Coordinates: 33.719612, -85.790557 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7196&lon=-85.7906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 8, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 1
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8669
- NTSB case page: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/ATL92MA118.aspx
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8669/pdf
- Board report AAR9303 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR9303.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92MA118

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF SENIOR MANAGEMENT OF GP EXPRESS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE TRAINING AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE STARTUP OF THE SOUTHERN OPERATION, WHICH RESULTED IN THE ASSIGNMENT OF AN INADEQUATELY PREPARED CAPTAIN WITH A RELATIVELY INEXPERIENCED FIRST OFFICER IN REVENUE PASSENGER SERVICE, AND THE FAILURE OF THE FLIGHTCREW TO USE APPROVED INSTRUMENT FLIGHT PROCEDURES, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND TERRAIN CLEARANCE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE CAUSES OF THE ACCIDENT WAS GP EXPRESS' FAILURE TO PROVIDE APPROACH CHARTS TO EACH PILOT AND TO ESTABLISH STABILIZED APPROACH CRITERIA. ALSO CONTRIBUTING WERE THE INADEQUATE CREW COORDINATION AND A ROLE REVERSAL ON THE PART OF THE CAPTAIN AND FIRST OFFICER. (NTSB REPORT AAR-93/03)

## 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)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - inadequate training, company/operator management (cause)
  - information insufficient, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THIS WAS THE FIRST DAY ON DUTY IN THE SOUTHERN REGION OPERATION FOR BOTH PILOTS. IN ADDITION, THEY HAD NEVER FLOWN TOGETHER. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE FLIGHTCREW LOST AWARENESS OF THEIR AIRPLANE'S POSITION, ERRONEOUSLY BELIEVED THAT THE FLIGHT WAS RECEIVING RADAR SERVICES FROM ATC, AND COMMENCED THE APPROACH FROM AN EXCESSIVE ALTITUDE AND AT A CRUISE AIRSPEED WITHOUT ACCOMPLISHING THE PUBLISHED PROCEDURE SPECIFIED ON THE APPROCH CHART. THE CREW BELIEVED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT, AND TURNED TOWARD THE NORTH TO EXECUTE THE ILS RWY 5 APPROACH. IN ACTUALITY, THE AIRPLANE HAD INTERCEPTED THE BACK COURSE LOCALIZER SIGNAL, AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED A CONTROLLED DESCENT UNTIL IT IMPACTED TERRAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N118GP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N118GP-1992-08-18), registration cancelled 1992-08-18, S/N U185 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C99
- Registry model: [Beech C-99](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c-99) (registry code 1154006) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: U-185
- Airframe hours: 9725
- Engines: P&W PT6A-36 750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Gp Express Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: Gp Express Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 16, 1992, 60 hours before
- Departed: ATL, ATLANTA, GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ANB, Anniston Metropolitan, runway 5, 7,001 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial, flight instructor, 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: 1,700 total, 24 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ANB, 8 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 19920608018799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920608018799A), Jun 8, 1992: Beech 99, Anniston, AL, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Mixed up on approach untrained crew flew LOC instead ILS to anb. Struck mountain short of airport. Ops negeligence.

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.