# NTSB CHI00FA080: Beech 95-B55, N7736R, Moorhead, MN, February 24, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: February 24, 2000, 11:03 local (17:03 UTC) - Place: Moorhead, MN - Coordinates: 46.859134, -96.749931 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8591&lon=-96.7499&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48714 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00FA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48714/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00FA080 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the missed approach. Factors to the accident were, the pilot's improper decision to attempt the approach in weather conditions below the approach/landing minimums, the weather, the pilot's lack of multiengine instrument experience, and spatial disorientation by the pilot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, missed approach (ifr) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - minimum descent altitude - not maintained, pilot in command - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The twin engine airplane was destroyed on impact with level terrain while executing a missed approach. During a VOR-A approach, the pilot descended 400 feet below the minimum descent altitude and the air traffic controller advised him to check altitude. After declaring a missed approach, ATC issued, and the pilot acknowledged, two vectors, after which radar and radio contact were lost. At one point, the pilot is advised and acknowledged that the runway visual range at a nearby airport is 3,000 feet. The destination airport had an overcast ceiling of 300 feet agl and 1-1/2 mile visibility about 20 minutes before the accident, and a 100 foot overcast ceiling and 1/2 mile visibility about 20 minutes after the accident. Radar data records the aircraft at an altitude of 2,100 feet msl and 4 seconds later records the altitude as 1,600 feet msl. The pilot received his multiengine airplane rating 2 months prior to the accident and had logged 25 hours in multiengine airplanes, 23 hours in the accident airplane, 11.4 hours in the accident airplane as pilot-in-command, and 7.8 hours simulated instrument time in the accident airplane. No anomalies were found with respect to the aircraft that could be associated with a preexisting condition. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On February 24, 2000, at 1103 central standard time, a Beech 95-B55, N7736R, piloted by an instrument rated commercial pilot, was destroyed when it impacted level terrain near Moorhead, Minnesota. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and the two passengers were fatally injured. The flight originated from the Boone Municipal Airport, Boone, Iowa, at 0910, and was en route to the Moorhead Municipal Airport (JKJ), Moorhead, Minnesota. The pilot was in contact with air traffic control (ATC) during the flight to JKJ. The pilot requested and was subsequently cleared for the VOR-A approach into JKJ. The pilot then advised ATC that he would be executing the missed approach. ATC issued the pilot vectors for the ILS 17 approach at the Hector International Airport (FAR), Fargo, North Dakota. After the pilot had acknowledged the first two vectors issued, radar and radio contact were lost. The following is a summary of communications between ATC and the pilot of N7736R. All times listed are central standard time. The full transcript of these communications is appended to this report. "N7736R" denotes transmissions made by the accident aircraft. "ER" denotes transmissions made by the Fargo Air Traffic Control Tower Approach Control, East Radar position. 1042:12 N7736R fargo approach baron seven seven three six romeo's with ya level at six 1042:17 ER baron seven seven three six romeo fargo approach proceed direct to the v o r expect vectors for the v o r alpha approach at the moorhead airport maintain six thousand fargo altimeter two niner eight seven 1042:27 N7736R two niner eight seven and direct the v o r thanks 1042:49 N7736R is there anybody ah shot the v o r approach into moorhead 1042:53 ER i've had nobody only into fargo 1042:56 N7736R okay doke thanks 1043:00 ER and at fargo we're showing overcast ceilings three hundred one mile visibility 1043:06 N7736R okay what are you landing on 1043:08 ER runway one seven 1043:10 N7736R okay thanks 1043:12 ER winds are currently one three zero at eight 1043:16 N7736R (unintelligible) 1047:04 N7736R do you mind if three six romeo goes a little bit west of the v o r and ah intersects and comes on in 1047:13 ER baron three six romeo that's fine say heading 1047:16 N7736R ah three zero zero 1047:19 ER baron three six romeo roger heading three zero zero vectors for the v o r alpha approach descend and maintain three thousand one hundred and just to let you know the r v r at fargo is down to three thousand 1047:31 N7736R okay thanks 1047:34 N7736R and that was down to thirty one hundred right 1047:37 ER baron three six romeo affirmative 1049:24 ER baron three six romeo turn right heading three two five 1049:28 N7736R right three two five 1050:49 ER baron three six romeo turn right heading three five zero descend and maintain two thousand seven hundred 1050:54 N7736R three five zero down to twenty seven thanks 1052:04 ER baron three six romeo six miles from the v o r turn right heading zero three zero maintain two thousand seven hundred until established on a published portion of the approach cleared v o r alpha approach at moorhead airport 1052:15 N7736R three six romeo ah zero three zero cleared for the approach thanks 1055:41 ER baron three six romeo radar service terminated frequency change approved report cancellation of your i f r with me in the air or princeton flight service on the ground 1055:50 N7736R three six romeo will do and i don't know that we're going to get in 1055:54 ER bonanza three six romeo roger check your altitude 1055:59 N7736R yeah ah three six romeo we're heading back up missed approach 1056:03 ER bonanza three six romeo roger climb and maintain four thousand fly heading zero four zero 1056:11 N7736R heading zero four zero thanks 1056:16 ER baron three six romeo continue the right turn heading zero niner zero vector around the antenna 1056:45 ER baron three six romeo heading zero niner zero vectors i 1 s runway one seven final approach course maintain four thousand 1056:55 N7736R three six romeo 1056:58 ER baron three six romeo did you want to try for the i l s at fargo 1057:16 ER baron three six romeo approach 1057:32 ER baron seven seven three six romeo fargo No further radio transmission was received from N7736R. Radar data for the accident aircraft from 10:52:25 to 10:57:40 cst was plotted on the approach plate for the VOR-A approach at JKJ. This plot and the certified radar data are appended to this report. The data shows that, at 10:56:10, the aircraft descended to an altitude of 1,200 feet msl. The minimum descent altitude listed on the VOR-A approach plate for JKJ is 1,600 feet msl. At 10:56:29 the aircraft altitude was 1,300 feet msl and ground speed was 131 knots. The next recorded altitude was 2,100 feet msl at 10:56:49 and ground speed was 78 knots. Four seconds later, at 10:56:53, the altitude was recorded to be 1,600 feet msl with a ground speed of 84 knots. PERSONEL INFORMATION The pilot was born on December 14, 1939, held a commercial pilot certificate issued on December 31, 1999, with single engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane ratings. The pilots second class aviation medical was performed February 8, 2000. According to the pilots "Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application" dated December 30, 1999, the pilot had accumulated 5,700 total hours of flight time, 120 hours of instruction received, 5,580 hours as pilot in command, 600 hours of instrument time, and 800 hours of night flight time. The pilots logbook was found at the accident scene and entries show that the pilot had accumulated 25.5 hours in multiengine airplanes, 23 hours in the accident airplane, and 11.4 hours in the accident airplane as pilot in command. Of the hours listed in the logbook, 7.8 hours are recorded as simulated instrument time in the accident aircraft. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane was a Beech model 95-B55, serial number TC-1173. According to the aircraft logbooks, the airplane had accumulated 3,530.10 hours time in service as of the last annual inspection dated June 10, 1999. The aircraft was powered by two Continental IO-520E2B engines that each produced 285 horsepower. According to the aircraft logbooks, the engines were installed new on the aircraft on September 25, 1974 under the provisions of a Supplemental Type Certificate. As of the last annual inspection, the left engine had accumulated 1,463.10 total hours time in service since installation and the logbooks did not record a major overhaul since the date of installation. As of the last annual inspection, the right engine had accumulated 1,463.10 total hours time in service since installation and an entry in the logbook shows that a major overhaul was performed on February 15, 1997 at a total engine time of 1280.8 hours. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION According to a report issued to the investigator in-charge by the Fargo Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT), the pilot contacted the Fort Dodge, Iowa Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) by telephone on 4 separate occasions on the date of the accident. During one of the telephone calls, at 0733, the pilot received a standard preflight pilot brief and filed an IFR flight plan for a flight from Boone, Iowa (BNW) to Moorhead, Minnesota (JKJ). At 1039, the automated weather observing system (AWOS) located at JKJ, approximately 6 miles and 60 degrees magnetic from the accident site, was reporting: wind 120 degrees magnetic at 4 knots ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7736R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7736R-2018-01-24), registration cancelled 2018-01-24, S/N TC-1173, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 95-B55 - Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TC-1173 - Engines: Continental IO-520E2B 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Larry Stotts - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 1999 - Departed: BNW, BOONE, IA - Destination: JKJ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: JKJ, Moorehead Municipal Arpt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,713 total, 23 in this make and model, 5,593 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 8 knots - Visibility: 0.25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast - Temperature: 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: JKJ, 5 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 20000224010839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000224010839A), Feb 24, 2000: Beech 95B55, Moorhead, MN, No damage, 3 fatal. (-23) At 1656.02Z while executing the VOR a approach to the Moorhead MN. Airport, the pilot of N7736R declared a missed approach. FAR approach acknowledges and… 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.