# NTSB CEN22LA166: Beech B200, N469SL, Odessa, TX, March 29, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 29, 2022, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Odessa, TX · Occurred in flight - during RNAV29 approach.
- Coordinates: 31.917969, -102.37715 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9180&lon=-102.3772&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Clear air turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Lubbock FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104886
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA166
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104886/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104886
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA166

## Probable cause

The airplane’s encounter with severe clear air turbulence that was not forecasted, which resulted in a serious injury to an unrestrained passenger.

## Findings

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

- [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=1152922), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md)
- [Equipment/furnishings: passenger compartment equip](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022520): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022520/cases.md?model=1152922), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022520/cases.md)
- [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=1152922), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md)
- [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Compliance w/ procedure (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=1152922), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md)
- [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=1152922), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech B200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1152922), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach: Clear air turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech B200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362/sequence.md?model=1152922), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/362/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while descending at about 160 kts during an instrument approach in visual meteorological conditions with the autopilot engaged, and passing through 5,000 ft msl, the airplane encountered “a sudden pocket” of severe clear air turbulence for one second, resulting in the loss of about 300 ft of altitude. A passenger in the cabin, who was in the process of restraining himself when the turbulence encounter occurred, hit his head on the cabin ceiling and sustained a serious injury. The autopilot was turned off, the pilot continued with the approach, and the airplane landed at the destination airport without further incident. The airplane did not sustain any damage from the turbulence encounter. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, an AIRMET for moderate turbulence below 12,000 ft msl and high surface winds was active for the area. The passengers were verbally instructed by the pilot to make sure their restraint systems were fastened. The pilot activated the cabin seatbelt sign as an aural and visual warning as reinforcement.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N469SL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N469SL), registered now, S/N BB-1036, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B200 (None)
- Registry model: [Beech B200](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b200) (registry code 1152922) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [U/A Canada PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/u-a-canada-pt6a-series) (registry code 61508, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BB-1036
- Year built: 1982
- Airframe hours: 9044
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-52 850 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-52 850 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Integrated Pain Associates, PLLC, doing business as Integrated Pain Associates, PLLC
- Registered owner: Vole Enterprises, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, September 14, 2021
- Departed: TPL, Temple, TX
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ODO, Odessa Airport-Schlemeyer Field, runway 29, 6,200 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 20, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,000 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 3,800 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 26 knots, gusting 33
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 29.47 inHg
- Turbulence: Severe
- Observed at: KODO, 1 nm away
- METAR: KODO 292353Z AUTO 30026G33KT 6SM HZ CLR 29/M08 A2947 RMK AO2 PK WND 26047/2336 SLP932 60000 T02891083 10328 20278 55018 PWINO

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20220329004419I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220329004419I), Mar 29, 2022: Beech B200, Odessa, TX, No damage. -The PIC anticipated a turbulent flight and advised the passengers to remain seated with their seatbelts fastened for duration of the flight. -The fasten seat…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 25, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104886. 11.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13622202&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13622418&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Additional documents (item 3, PDF, 13 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13701656&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Additional%20Documents%20Redacted-Rel.pdf
- N469SL Beech B200 - passenger briefing cards (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 7.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13700333&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N469SL%20Beech%20B200%20Passenger%20Briefing%20Cards-Rel.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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