# NTSB ATL93FA028: Beech 58, N9321Q, West Columbia, SC, November 25, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 25, 1992, 02:17 local (07:17 UTC)
- Place: West Columbia, SC
- Coordinates: 33.93938, -81.149597 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9394&lon=-81.1496&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8678
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93FA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8678/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93FA028

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S CONTINUED OPERATION WITH KNOWN DEFICIENT EQUIPMENT, HIS IMPROPER DESCENT, AND HIS FAILURE TO PERFORM A MISSED APPROACH. A FACTOR WAS THE OPERATOR'S INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE OF THE PILOT'S PROCEDURES AND THE MAINTENANCE OF THE AIRPLANE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach
  - weather condition - fog
  - light condition - dark night
  - comm/nav equipment,glide slope receiver - inoperative
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, company/operator mgmt (contributing factor)
  - descent - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT HAD STATED TO FRIENDS & OTHER COMPANY PILOTS THAT THE GLIDE SLOPE IN THE AIRPLANE WAS INOPERATIVE. THIS AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED REMOTELY FROM THE OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE OFFICES OF THE COMPANY. THE PILOT HAD REPORTED TO THE COMPANY, BY TELEPHONE, THAT THERE WAS A DISCREPANCY WITH THE GLIDE SLOPE. HE HAD NOT COMPLETED THE DISCREPANCY FORM CONTAINED IN THE COMPANY MANUAL. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE GLIDE SLOPE REPAIRED. THE REMOTE MAINTENANCE FACILITY WAS OVERLOADED WITH WORK SO, THE PILOT ASKED HIS COMPANY TO INTERCEDE WITH THE AVIONICS SHOP CHIEF TO REPAIR N9321Q. SUBSEQUENTLY, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE AIRPLANE & THE PILOT COMMENCED HIS NORMAL FLIGHT SCHEDULE. UPON RETURN TO THE ORIGINATION AIRPORT, AN ILS APPROACH WAS ATTEMPTED. ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE RUNWAY THE ATC CONTROLLER OBTAINED CONFIRMATION FROM THE PILOT THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS AT 1,300 FEET. THE PILOT WAS ASKED IF A MISSED APPROACH WOULD BE EXECUTED, TO WHICH HE RESPONDED NO. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS ABOUT 1 MILE BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9321Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9321Q-2002-12-11), registration cancelled 2002-12-11, S/N TH-182, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 58
- Registry model: [Beech 58](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58) (registry code 1152740) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TH182
- Airframe hours: 8983
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Grand Strand Aviation, Inc., doing business as Ramp 66
- Registered owner: Grand Strand Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 28, 1992, 22 hours before
- Departed: CLT, CHARLOTTE, NC
- Destination: CAE, COLUMBIA, SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CAE, Columbia Metro, runway 11, 8,602 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,750 total, 100 in this make and model, 34 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 20° at 4 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CAE, 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 19921125047749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921125047749A), Nov 25, 1992: Beech 58, Columbia, SC, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into ground east of airport on a missed approach. Struck trees and burned. No ground lights. Failed to climb.

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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