# NTSB CHI84LA065: Beech BE-200, N90DF, Detroit, MI, December 21, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 21, 1983, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Detroit, MI
- Coordinates: 42.329658, -83.049476 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3297&lon=-83.0495&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12508
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84LA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12508/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84LA065

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (cause)
  - anti-ice/deice system - selected, pilot in command
  - window,flight compartment window/windshield - ice (contributing factor)
  - horizontal stabilizer surface - ice (cause)
- Undershoot, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command
  - stall/mush - premature
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - not possible, pilot in command

## Analysis

WHILE RECEIVING VECTORS FOR AN ILS APCH, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED RIME ICING CONDITIONS. THE LEFT WINDSHIELD BEGAN ICING OVER & WOULD NOT CLEAR WHEN THE PLT ADJUSTED THE WINDSHIELD HEAT FROM NORMAL TO HIGH. SINCE THE AUTOPILOT WAS ENGAGED, HE MOVED TO THE RIGHT (COPILOT'S) SEAT. AFTER TURNING INBOUND ON THE LOCALIZER, HE DISENGAGED THE AUTOPILOT. PRIOR TO REACHING THE OUTER MARKER, HE CYCLED THE DEICE BOOTS & NOTICED THAT THE WING BOOTS CYCLED PROPERLY. WHILE ON SHORT FINAL WITH 60% FLAPS & 130 KTS, A SINK RATE DEVELOPED. THE PLT APPLIED POWER & THE SINK RATE DECREASED MOMENTARILY, THEN BEGAN INCREASING AGAIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT LANDED HARD ABOUT 125 FT SHORT OF THE RWY. IT THEN ROLLED ONTO THE RWY & SKIDDED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE INTO A SNOW COVERED AREA. THE ACFT RECEIVED WING & ENG DAMAGE DURING THE OCCURRENCE. A POST-ACCIDENT EXAM REVEALED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS COVERED WITH ICE & APPX 1/2 INCH OF ICE REMAINED UNBROKEN ON THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. THE STABILIZER DEICE BOOTS WERE CYCLED & FUNCTIONED PROPERLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N90DF (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH BE-200
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BB-633
- Airframe hours: 1619
- Engines: P&W PT6A-41 850 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Aviex Jet, Inc.
- Registered owner: Reed Rock Bit Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 26, 1983, 60 hours before
- Departed: HOU, HOUSTON, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DET, Detroit City, runway 15, 5,019 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 4,428 total, 467 in this make and model, 4,314 as pilot in command, 348 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DET

## 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 19831221062999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831221062999A), Dec 21, 1983: Beech B200, Detroit, MI, Substantial damage. Horizontal stabilizer accumulated ice causing aircraft to sink and touchdown short of runway. Left windshield inop.

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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