# NTSB CHI82FA032: Beech A23A, N6940Q, London, OH, January 24, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 23, 1982, 23:41 local (Jan 24, 1982, 04:41 UTC)
- Place: London, OH
- Location: 39.8961° N, 83.4325° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of London, OH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8961&lon=-83.4325&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 23, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71469
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI82FA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71469/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82FA032

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT RECEIVED TWO WEATHER BRIEFINGS FOR A FLIGHT FROM COLUMBUS TO SPRINGFIELD, OHIO. VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. THE PILOT TOOK OFF AFTER THE TOWER CLOSED AT 2300 EST. AT ABOUT 2341 A WITNESS NEAR THE CRASH SITE HEARD THE LOUD SOUND OF AN AIRCRAFT ENGINE, BUT DID NOT HEAR THE CRASH. HE REPORTED THAT THE VISIBILITY WAS LIMITED BY BLOWING SNOW IN STRONG WINDS. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND ON 1/28/82 ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE HOME OF THE WITNESS. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED IT HAD CRASHED IN A STEEP DIVE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6940Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6940Q-1984-01-09), registration cancelled 1984-01-09, S/N M-1087 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A23A
- Registry model: [Beech A23A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a23a) (registry code 1151208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: M1087
- Airframe hours: 2183
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-345-A 165 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Air Club, Inc
- Registered owner: Air Club, Inc
- Departed: SGH, COLUMBUS, OH
- Destination: OSU, SPRINGFIELD, OH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 75 total, 75 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 260° at 32 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CMH, 25 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 19820123003099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820123003099A), Jan 23, 1982: Beech A23A, London, OH, Destroyed. VFR pilot lost control in night IMC weather. Near vertical ground impact,was advised not to go VFR.

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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