- Date
- November 21, 1997, 13:22 local (18:22 UTC)
- Place
- Athens, GA
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N202RSBeech 60
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 29, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19971121034199A
- Case key
- 3944
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision by attempting to land in weather that was below minimums, and his failure to attain a suitable touchdown point on the runway. Weather below landing minimums was a related factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After completing an ILS approach to runway 27, the aircraft touched down at approximately the 1500 foot remaining point of the 5522 foot runway. The airplane continued off the departure end of runway 27 and skidded down an embankment, collapsing the nose gear in soft terrain. According to air traffic controllers, the pilot continued the approach after being issued the weather. The weather was 200 feet overcast and 1/4 mile visibility. Landing minimums for the approach were 200 feet and 3/4 mile visibility.
Factual narrative
On November 21, 1997, about 1322 eastern standard time, a Beech 60, N202RS, overran the departure end of runway 27 and skidded down an embankment collapsing the nose gear at Athens/Ben Epps Airport in Athens, Georgia. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and instrument flight rules. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. The instrument rated private pilot was not injured, and the pilot rated passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated from Witham Field in Stuart, Florida with an instrument flight plan at 1030.
According to the pilot, as he approached Athens, the controller indicated to him that the ceiling was 600 feet and the visibility was 3 miles. He decided to proceed on the ILS 27 approach. At the minimum descent altitude (MDA), 200 feet, the pilot stated he saw the airport and touched down. The pilot stated when he applied the brakes "nothing happened". He believed they were hydroplaning. The pilot did not believe he had runway left to execute the go-around, so he attempted to stop in the remaining runway. The airplane continued off the departure end of runway 27 and skidded down an embankment collapsing the nose gear in soft terrain.
The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane.
According to the Air Traffic Controllers involved, they issued the clearance to land after giving the pilot the weather. They stated the ceiling was 200 feet overcast, and the visibility was 1/4 of a mile. The pilot continued the approach. Both controllers stated the airplane broke out of the clouds at approximately the midpoint of the runway. It then made a "quick descent" in an attempt to land. They stated the airplane touched down at approximately the 1500 foot remaining point of the 5522 foot runway. After it touched down, the controllers were unable to see the airplane, due to the poor visibility. The weather at Athens Airport was 200 feet overcast and 1/4 mile visibility with drizzle and fog. The ILS approach minimums for runway 27 was 200 feet and 3/4 mile visibility.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N202RS
- Reported as
- Beech 60
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- P-380
- Airframe hours
- 3,601
- Engine
- Lycoming TI0-541, 375 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert A. Morrison
- Registered owner
- Lookout Leasing Company
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 16, 1997 · 122 hours before
- Departed
- SUA · Witham Field, FL
- Destination
- AHN
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- AHN · Athens/Ben Epps, runway 27, 5,522 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,200 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 0.25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 200 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AHN, 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.