# NTSB CHI84FA054: Beech 77, N37253, Sidney, OH, December 4, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 4, 1983, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Sidney, OH
- Coordinates: 40.279163, -84.159332 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2792&lon=-84.1593&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12380
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84FA054
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12380/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84FA054

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - wing - ice (cause)
  - proper altitude - not possible
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRCREW TOOK OFF ON AN IFR FLT FROM DAYTON TO PIQUA & SIDNEY, OH TO PRACTICE APCH'S, THEN THEY INTENDED TO RETURN TO DAYTON. THE COPILOT STATED THAT THEY ENTERED THE CLOUDS AT 700 TO 800 FT AGL & HE DID NOT SEE THE GROUND AGAIN ON THIS FLT. HE REPORTED THAT ICE BEGAN BUILDING ON THE ACFT UNTIL ON A DESCENT TOWARD PIQUA, WHEN REPORTEDLY, IT BEGAN DISSIPATING. A MISSED APCH WAS MADE AT PIQUA WITHOUT SEEING THE ARPT. THE COPILOT STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET A GOOD RATE OF CLIMB. AT 1258 EST, THE AIRCREW REQUESTED VECTORS BACK TO DAYTON (RATHER THAN TO CONTINUE TO SIDNEY) & ADVISED THAT THEY WERE ENCOUNTERING ICE & TURBULENCE. THEY WERE ISSUED A VECTOR, BUT APRX 30 SEC LATER, THEY ADVISED THAT THEY COULD NOT MAINTAIN THEIR ASSIGNED ALT OF 3000 FT. THEY WERE ADVISED THAT VECTORS COULD NOT BE PROVIDEDBELOW 3000 FT, BUT THE SIDNEY ARPT WAS AT THEIR 2 O'CLOCK POSITION AT LESS THAN A MILE. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE ACFT CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA APRX 1 1/2 MI WEST OF THE ARPT. REPORTEDLY, RAIN WAS ENCOUNTERED BETWEEN PIQUA & SIDNEY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N37253](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N37253-1994-08-05), registration cancelled 1994-08-05, S/N WA122 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Beech 77
- Registry model: [Beech 77](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-77) (registry code 1153007) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: WA-122
- Airframe hours: 1315
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Crossroads Aero Club, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 8, 1983, 72 hours before
- Departed: DAY, DAYTON, OH
- Destination: DAY, DAYTON, OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: Sidney Muni

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 947 total, 9 in this make and model, 892 as pilot in command, 91 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DAY, 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 19831204059689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831204059689A), Dec 4, 1983: Beech 77, Sidney, OH, Destroyed. Struck trees on a VOR approach after aircraft stalled due to icing. Gross misjudgment in practice IFR with icing.

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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