# NTSB BFO89FA019: Beech V35TC, N27FH, Roanoke, VA, March 3, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 3, 1989, 16:12 local (21:12 UTC)
- Place: Roanoke, VA
- Coordinates: 37.210929, -80.039924 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2109&lon=-80.0399&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11452
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89FA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11452/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89FA019

## Probable cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE INSTRUMENT RATED PLT INITIATED VFR FLIGHT TO BLACKSBURG AFTER HE WAS INFORMED BY FSS THAT IMC EXISTED AT THE DEST. THE PLT CONTACTED ROANOKE (ROA) APCH CTRL ABOUT 15 MILES WEST OF BLACKSBURG AND 8 MILES SW OF ROA. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS 'STUCK' IN CLOUDS AT 2,000 FT MSL AT THE SAME TIME WITNESSES IN THE AREA REPORTED AN ACFT JUST ABOVE TREETOP LEVEL IN HEAVY FOG AND BELOW AN ESTIMATED 100 TO 200 FT OVERCAST. THE PLT WAS CLEARED TO AND BEGAN CLIMBING WEST TO 5,000 FT. AS HE WAS CLIMBING HE ASKED FOR THE CURRENT WEATHER AT BLACKSBURG. ROA ADVISED THE PLT THAT THE WEATHER AT BLACKSBURG WAS NOT AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, THE PLT ASKED AND WAS CLEARED TO PROCEED TO BLACKSBURG ON A 240 DEGREE HEADING. THE ACFT WAS AT 4,600 FT WHEN IT ABRUPTLY MADE A RIGHT TURN AND DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. WITNESSES STATED THE ACFT DESCENDED FROM A LOW OVERCAST IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE WITH THE ENGINE AT HIGH POWER. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PLT IMPAIRMENT OR INCAPACITATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N27FH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27FH-1990-12-13), registration cancelled 1990-12-13, S/N D8279 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH V35TC
- Registry model: [Beech V35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35) (registry code 1151538) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-8279
- Airframe hours: 3200
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-D 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ruffin K. Harris
- Registered owner: Ruffin K Harris
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 6, 1989
- Departed: VA79, MIDDLEBURG, VA
- Destination: BCB, BLACKSBURG, VA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,811 total, 1,241 in this make and model, 1,630 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ROA, 7 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 19890303003829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890303003829A), Mar 3, 1989: Beech V35TC, Roanoke, VA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Descended to unsafe altitude to fly under clouds,pulled up to miss hills,lost control and crashed in resident area

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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