# NTSB BFO91FA068: Beech V35A, N118CB, Jonesville, VA, July 24, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 24, 1991, 09:18 local (13:18 UTC)
- Place: Jonesville, VA
- Coordinates: 36.679599, -83.110214 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6796&lon=-83.1102&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11629
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO91FA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11629/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO91FA068

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) TO ASSURE THAT THE INSTRUMENT DEPARTURE PROCEDURE WAS FOLLOWED AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED CLEAR OF MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, climb
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - weather condition - fog
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

BEFORE TAKING OFF FM THE UNCTLD ARPT, THE FLT OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING, FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN & RCVD AN INSTRUMENT CLNC BY TELEPHONE WITH A VOID TIME OF 15 MIN LATER.  A WITNESS ESTIMATED THE ARPT WX WAS 200' OVC, VIS 1 TO 5 MI WITH FOG, AND STONE MTN (NORTH OF THE ARPT) WAS OBSCURED.  THE ACFT DEPD FM RWY 25 WITH 4 RATED PLTS ABOARD.  THE OWNER (A NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT) WAS IN THE LEFT FNT SEAT & A COMMERCIAL RATED INSTRUCTOR PLT (PIC/CFI/CFII) WAS IN THE RGT FNT SEAT.  SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT CRASHED INTO STONE MTN, APRX 2.5 MI FROM THE ARPT, ON A HDG OF ABT 310 DEG. AN EXAM REVEALED THE THROWOVER YOKE WAS TO THE LEFT.  LOGS SHOWED THE OWNER HAD BEEN RCVG INSTRUMENT INSTRUCTION FM THE INSTRUCTOR IN THE RGT FNT SEAT.  THE INSTRUMENT DEP PROC WAS TO CLIMB VISUALLY OVR ARPT TO 2800', THEN CONT CLIMB VIA DRCT LONG HOLLOW NON-DRCTNL BCN HOLDING PATTERN TO 5000' BEFORE PROCEEDING ON COURSE.  ETHANOL WAS DETECTED IN THE RGT FNT SEAT OCCUPANT'S BLOOD; HOWEVER, THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF DECOMPOSITION IN THE SAMPLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N118CB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N118CB-1991-12-16), registration cancelled 1991-12-16, S/N D8983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH V35A
- Registry model: [Beech V35A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35a) (registry code 1151544) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D8983
- Airframe hours: 2932
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BA 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bruce L. Van Huss
- Registered owner: Bruce L. Van Huss
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 12, 1990, 193 hours before
- Departed: PTG, PENNINGTON GAP, VA
- Destination: RFD, ROCKFORD, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PTG, Lee County, runway 25, 2,262 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 77; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 20,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19910724029739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910724029739A), Jul 24, 1991: Beech V35, Jonesville, VA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Departed int low clouds. Failed to circle and or hold gei altitude. Flew into mountain. 4 pilots. Owner left seat.

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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