# NTSB BFO90FA050: Rockwell 114, N5803N, Anawalt, WV, May 30, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 29, 1990, 22:53 local (May 30, 1990, 02:53 UTC)
- Place: Anawalt, WV
- Coordinates: 37.330718, -81.439086 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3307&lon=-81.4391&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 13, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11547
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90FA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11547/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90FA050

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE ABOVE THE TERRAIN.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  DARKNESS, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, AND LOW CEILING.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING A VFR FLT FROM MYRTLE BEACH, SC, TO WELCH, WV, THE PLT LANDED AT BLUEFIELD, WV, WHERE HE REFUELED & OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING. AT 2241 EDT, THE HE TOOK OFF ON THE LAST LEG OF THE FLT. ABOUT 12 MI WNW OF BLUEFIELD, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH STEEP RISING TERRAIN ABOUT 100 FT BELOW THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN.  IMPACT OCCURRED AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 2800 FT & APRX 4 MI LEFT OF A DIRECT LINE BETWEEN BLUEFIELD & WELCH. THE 2249 EDT WX AT BLUEFIELD WAS IN PART: LOW SCT CLOUDS, 1200 FT OVC, VIS 7 MI, WIND FROM 250 DEG AT 4 KTS. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5803N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5803N-1990-12-27), registration cancelled 1990-12-27, S/N 14371 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Rockwell 114
- Registry model: [Rockwell International 114](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-114) (registry code 7630314) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 14371
- Airframe hours: 1572
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-T4B5D 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Charles T. Seay
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, July 23, 1989, 94 hours before
- Departed: BLF, BLUEFIELD, WV
- Destination: I25, WELCH, WV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 378 total, 346 in this make and model, 301 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: BLF, 12 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 19900529017819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900529017819A), May 29, 1990: Gulstm 114, Anawalt, WV, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Flew into side of cloud obscured mountain at night VFR. Only 20 miles between airports. Fog,rain clouds in 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.

---
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.