# NTSB CHI90LA072: Beech E18S, N48K, Oak Creek, WI, January 25, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 25, 1990, 05:42 local (11:42 UTC) - Place: Oak Creek, WI - Coordinates: 42.980121, -87.900451 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9801&lon=-87.9005&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 28, 1991 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 14624 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14624/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA072 ## Probable cause IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, ACCUMULATION OF STRUCTURAL AND/OR INDUCTION ICE, AND DARK NIGHT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - fuel system,carburetor - ice (contributing factor) - fuselage - ice (contributing factor) - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - 1 engine - propeller feathering - performed, pilot in command - performed, pilot in command - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - terrain condition - snow covered ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT, WHILE EN ROUTE TO HIS DESTINATION ON A NIGHT CARGO FLIGHT, HE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY WITH THE RIGHT ENGINE WHICH HE ATTRIBUTED TO CARBURETOR ICING. WITH APPLICATION OF MANIFOLD HEAT, THE PROBLEM CLEARED UP; A SHORT WHILE LATER, THE RIGHT ENGINE LOST POWER COMPELTELY. ATTEMPTS AT RESTART WERE UNSUCCESSFUL; THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND DIVERTED TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT. WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE AREA WERE BAD, WITH A WINTER STORM IN PROGRESS; MOST LOCAL AIRPORTS WERE CLOSED DUE TO WEATHER. THE PILOT WAS CLEARED FOR THE ILS RWY 1 APPROACH. HE REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT HAD ICED UP WHILE EN ROUTE, AND THAT WHILE ON THE ILS APCH, IT 'PICKED UP MORE' (ICE) AT ABOUT 300 TO 400 FT AGL. HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RWY. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE MADE AN EMERG LANDING APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. A POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OF THE RIGHT ENGINE. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48K-2007-04-11), registration cancelled 2007-04-11, S/N BA-202, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH E18S - Registry model: [Beech E18S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e18s) (registry code 1151006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: BA-202 - Airframe hours: 16147 - Engines: P&W R-985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Blackhawk Airways - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, December 13, 1989, 38 hours before - Departed: YIP, YPSILANTI, MI - Destination: JVL, JANESVILLE, WI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: runway 1, 9,690 × 200 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,600 total, 230 in this make and model, 2,410 as pilot in command, 273 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft - Observed at: MKE, 1 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 19900125023179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900125023179A), Jan 25, 1990: Beech E18S, Milwaukee, WI, Substantial damage. Right engine quit due to impact ice,crash landed into a field. Iced airframe. ## Other investigations on N48K (2) 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. - [NTSB SEA03LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA034), Feb 4, 2003: Beech E18S (N48K), Burlington, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to adequately remove ice/frost from the aircraft and to maintain airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff. An inadequate preflight was a factor. - [NTSB UNK64X3230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X3230), Aug 5, 1964: Beechcraft E18S (N48K), E Boston, MA, substantial damage 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.