# NTSB DCA81AA006: Beech 99A, N390CA, Spokane, WA, January 20, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 20, 1981
- Place: Spokane, WA · SPOKANE, WA
- Location: 47.6588° N, 117.4260° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Spokane, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6588&lon=-117.4260&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 7 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 21, 1981
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79384
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA81AA006
- Board report AAR8111 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8111.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA81AA006

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3663  81/1/20    SPOKANE,WA          BEECH 99A           CR-  2  0  0  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1127                    N390CA              PX-  5  2  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      36, 11680 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG S-D        7000 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SPOKANE INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          SEATTLE,WA                  SPOKANE,WA                   MOSES LAKE,WA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INSTRUMENTS-MISREAD OR FAILED TO READ
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           PERSONNEL - PRODUCTION-DESIGN-PERSONNEL: POOR/INADEQUATE DESIGN
           INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES - COMMUNICATIONS AND NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT: DME
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- DSND BLO MDA NR FAF/DME,4.5MI FM RWY.DME FOR ILS APCH LCTD NR MAP.NO FREQ DSPLAY ON DME MODE SEL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N390CA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N390CA-1983-04-14), registration cancelled 1983-04-14, S/N U-101, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 99A
- Registry model: [Beech B-99](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b-99) (registry code 1154004) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Spokane Intl

## 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 19810120000779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810120000779A), Jan 20, 1981: Beech 99A, Spokane, WA, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Aircraft descended below approach minimums and crashed 4.5 miles short of runway threshold.

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.