# NTSB BFO90FA012: British Aerospace BAE 3101, N851JS, Staunton, VA, December 16, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 15, 1989, 19:33 local (Dec 16, 1989, 00:33 UTC)
- Place: Staunton, VA
- Location: 38.2638° N, 78.8964° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SHENANDOAH VALLEY RGNL (SHD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2638&lon=-78.8964&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 20 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 15, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11539
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90FA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11539/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90FA012

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY ALIGN THE AIRPLANE WITH THE RUNWAY HEADING DURING THE  TAKEOFF  RUN.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  AIRPORT PERSONNEL'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT RUNWAY MARKING AND EDGE LIGHTS WERE ADEQUATELY CLEARED OF SNOW, ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL (NIGHT/WEATHER/TERRAIN/RUNWAY) CONDITIONS,  AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF VISUAL PERCEPTION.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - airport facilities,runway edge lights - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - airport snow removal - inadequate, airport personnel (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: N851JS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BRITISH AEROSPACE BAE 3101
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 834
- Airframe hours: 2271
- Engines: GARRETT TPE 331 940 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: US Air Leasing & Services Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 21, 1989, 86 hours before
- Destination: BWI, BALTIMORE, MD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SHD, Shenandoah Valley, runway 23, 6,000 × 150 ft, macadam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,750 total, 2,875 in this make and model, 6,412 as pilot in command, 220 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 260° at 7 knots, gusting 15
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft
- Temperature: 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SHD

## 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 19891215066809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891215066809A), Dec 15, 1989: Bag JETSTM3101, Staunton-Waynes, VA, Substantial damage. Takeoff on unplowed runway drifted off center aborted takeoff. Left runway into deep snow and over an embankment.

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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