# NTSB CEN11CA387: Beech B200, N23WS, Waukegan, IL, June 10, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 10, 2011, 06:30 local (11:30 UTC)
- Place: Waukegan, IL
- Coordinates: 42.420276, -87.8675 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4203&lon=-87.8675&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 19, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-DET-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 80759
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA387
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80759/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80759
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA387

## Probable cause

The lightning strike during an en route descent.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Convective weather: lightning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033025/cases.md?model=1152922), [All aircraft, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033025/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Beech B200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1152922), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-cruise: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech B200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=1152922), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot began a descent from 16,000 feet and was being vectored for an approach when the airplane was struck by lightning. The airplane continued to perform normally and an uneventful landing was made at the planned destination airport. The pilot noticed the airplane was damaged during a post-flight walk-around. The lightning strike caused minor damage to a propeller blade on the left engine and to the left wing flap. The right elevator was substantially damaged by the lightning strike. The pilot stated they had passed an area of convective activity and were in instrument meteorological conditions with smooth air at the time of the lightning strike.

## Factual narrative

The pilot began a descent from 16,000 feet and was being vectored for an approach when the airplane was struck by lightning. The airplane continued to perform normally and an uneventful landing was made at the planned destination airport. The pilot noticed the airplane was damaged during a post-flight walk-around. The lightning strike caused minor damage to a propeller blade on the left engine and to the left wing flap. The right elevator was substantially damaged by the lightning strike. The pilot stated they had passed an area of convective activity and were in instrument meteorological conditions with smooth air at the time of the lightening strike.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N23WS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N23WS), registered now, S/N BB-1143 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B200
- Registry model: [Beech B200](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b200) (registry code 1152922) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BB-1143
- Airframe hours: 6742
- Engines: NONE NONE turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42 850 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Pontiac Flight Service Inc
- Registered owner: Dovey Air Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, June 1, 2011, 15 hours before
- Departed: PTK, Pontiac, MI
- Destination: UGN, Waukegan, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: UGN, Waukegan Regional Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 23, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 800 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: UGN

## 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 20110610018209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110610018209A), Jun 10, 2011: Beech B200, Waukegan, IL, Substantial damage. Aircraft experienced a lightning strike in left propeller on approach to Waukegan Regional Airport (ugn). Aircraft continued through an uneventful landing.…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 20, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80759. 1.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 449 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350313&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Interview (item 2, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350319&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-Master.PDF
- Photo 01. Propeller Blade Damage (item 3, .PDF, 531 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350317&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2001.%20Propeller%20Blade%20Damage-Master.PDF
- Photo 02. Right Side Elevator (item 4, .PDF, 576 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350318&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2002.%20Right%20Side%20Elevator-Master.PDF

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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