# NTSB CHI91LA106: Beech A36, N6687U, Ogallala, NE, March 12, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 12, 1991, 07:49 local (14:49 UTC)
- Place: Ogallala, NE
- Coordinates: 41.129104, -101.720153 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1291&lon=-101.7202&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15021
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91LA106
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15021/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA106

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT AND THE LACK OF SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO MANEUVER (CIRCLE TO LAND) IN UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS WITH STRUCTURAL ICE ON THE AIRCRAFT.  THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND STRUCTURAL (WING) ICE WERE RELATED FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, circling (ifr)
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - wing - ice (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - initiated, pilot in command
  - airspeed - inadequate (cause)
  - aircraft control - not maintained
- In flight collision with terrain/water, circling (ifr)

## Analysis

THE PILOT PERFORMED AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH TO RUNWAY 26 AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT DURING A HEAVY SNOWSTORM WITH THE WIND FROM 320 DEG AT 40 GUSTING 60 KTS. AFTER CONSIDERING HIS ALTITUDE ABOVE THE RUNWAY AND THE WINDS, THE PILOT ELECTED TO CIRCLE AND LAND ON RUNWAY 31. HE STATED THAT AS HE BEGAN HIS LEFT TURN, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. HE REPORTED THAT IN SPITE OF HIS ATTEMPTS TO REGAIN CONTROL, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS ICING UP QUICKLY DURING THE APPROACH. THERE WAS NO CLAIM OR EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. STRONG, GUSTY SURFACE WINDS HAD BEEN PREDICTED FOR THE AREA, AND THE PILOT HAD OBTAINED SEVERAL PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFINGS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6687U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6687U-1991-07-09), registration cancelled 1991-07-09, S/N E1666 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E1666
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Growth Management Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 21, 1990, 0 hours before
- Departed: LNK, LINCOLN, NE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: OGA, Searle Field, runway 31, 3,698 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 2,010 total, 700 in this make and model, 1,900 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 40 knots, gusting 60
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19910312005269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910312005269A), Mar 12, 1991: Beech A36, Ogallala, NE, Destroyed. Lost control trying to land in blizzard conditions. Severe turbulence and icing. Elected to land due airframe 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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