# NTSB DCA84AA015: Swearingen SA226TC, N63Z, Terre Haute, IN, January 30, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: January 30, 1984, 06:30 local (11:30 UTC)
- Place: Terre Haute, IN
- Coordinates: 39.469951, -87.380676 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4700&lon=-87.3807&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15804
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA84AA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15804/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA84AA015

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - light condition - dawn
  - weather condition - rain
  - weather condition - fog
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff

## Analysis

AFTER TAKING OFF FROM RWY 23, THE ACFT CRASHED SSW OF THE ARPT ABOUT 6300 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY & ABOUT 1800 FT TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY CENTERLINE. IMPACT OCCURRED WHILE THE ACFT WAS IN A STEEP DESCENT. THE WRECKAGE PATH WAS SCATTERED ALONG A HEADING OF 035 DEG FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT. THE ACFT WAS DEMOLISHED BY IMPACT & FIRE & NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63Z-2013-04-29), registration cancelled 2013-04-29, S/N TC-240, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA226TC
- Registry model: [Swearingen SA226TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa226tc) (registry code 8780404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (registry code 01514, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC-240
- Airframe hours: 10607
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331 840 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Britt Airways
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 18, 1984, 568 hours before
- Departed: HUF
- Destination: EVV, EVANSVILLE, IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HUF, Hulman Regional, runway 23, 9,020 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 19,189 total, 1,501 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft broken
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HUF, 2 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 19840130002879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840130002879A), Jan 30, 1984: Swrngn SA226TC, Terre Haute, IN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Impacted ground nose down after takeoff. Intense fire erupted. Suspect non standard electrical wiring a factor.

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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