# NTSB BFO86LHD01: Cessna 414, N13FH, Georgetown, DE, December 13, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: December 13, 1985
- Place: Georgetown, DE
- Coordinates: 38.690399, -75.379035 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6904&lon=-75.3790&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11260
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO86LHD01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11260/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO86LHD01

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - improper use of procedure, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT IMPACTED TREES DURING A VOR APCH AND DESCENDED TO GROUND IMPACT. THE PLT FLEW THE APCH WITH THE AUTOPILOT COUPLED. THE ALT HOLD AND ALERT WERE SET FOR THE MDA. WHEN VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE ARPT ENVIROMENT WAS ESTABLISHED, THE PLT DISCONNECTED THE ALT HOLD AND BEGAN LOWERING FULL FLAPS. AT THIS TIME THE ELECTRIC TRIM PITCHED THE NOSE OF THE ACFT DOWN AND THE ACFT IMPACTED TREES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N13FH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 414
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0651
- Airframe hours: 920
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Hertrich Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1985, 50 hours before
- Departed: BLM, MONMOTH, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GED, Sussex Co., runway 22, 5,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; flight instructor, airline transport; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 12,900 total, 60 in this make and model, 5,713 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 200° at 6 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: 5BY

## 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 19851213062019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851213062019A), Dec 13, 1985: Cessna 414A, Georgetown, DE, Destroyed. Struck trees on approach end of runway. Descended below minimums with extremely poor IFR conditions. Fire ensued.

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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