# NTSB BFO85FA001: Beech 58, N777AB, Hot Springs, VA, October 24, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 24, 1984, 08:08 local (12:08 UTC)
- Place: Hot Springs, VA
- Coordinates: 37.999065, -79.829032 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9991&lon=-79.8290&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11115
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO85FA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11115/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO85FA001

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, missed approach (ifr)
  - weather observation - not possible (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - in-flight weather advisories - not possible (contributing factor)
  - approach aids,ils localizer - not operating (contributing factor)
  - notams - not possible
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - missed approach - initiated
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE DESTN ARPT WAS UNATTENDED AT NIGHT & WHEN THE PLT RECEIVED HIS LAST WX BRIEFING AT 0519 CDT, NO CURRENT WX INFO WAS AVAILABLE. DURING ARRIVAL, THE ACFT WAS VECTORED FOR AN ILS RWY 24 APCH & THE PLT WAS ADVISED THAT CURRENT WX INFO WAS STILL NOT AVAILABLE. BEFORE REACHING THE OUTER MARKER (FAF), THE PLT STATED (2 TIMES) THAT HE WAS NOT RECEIVING THE ILS LOCALIZER. HOWEVER, THE ADF EQUIPPED ACFT THEN TRACKED BACK ON COURSE & CROSSED OVER THE FAF/LOM BEACON. AT 0801, THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR THE APCH & RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED. APRX 7 MIN LATER, HE DECLARED A MISSED APCH, THEN RADIO & RADARCONTACT WERE LOST. THE ACFT WAS FOUND WHERE IT CRASHED ABOUT 1 MI SE OF THE ARPT AT AN ELEV OF 3575'. THE ARPT ELEV WAS 3792'. WHEN THE LOCAL ALT SETTING WAS NOT AVAILABLE & THE ROANOKE SETTING WAS USED, MINIMUMS WERE 630' CEILING & 2 MI VISIBILITY. THE 0810 WX WAS IN PART: 100' OBSCURED & 1/8 MI VIS WITH FOG. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ILS LOCALIZER HAD TRIPPED OFF FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON AT SOMETIME BEFORE 0755 WHILE THE ARPT WAS UNATTENDED; IT WORKED OK AFTER RESET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N777AB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N777AB-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N TH-209, built 1972 (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: TH-209
- Airframe hours: 2373
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Walter G. Hodges
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 19, 1984, 5 hours before
- Departed: W09, LEESBURG, VA
- Destination: HSP
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HSP, Ingalls Field, runway 24, 5,600 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 8 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HSP, 1 nm away

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.