# NTSB DCA85AA012: Beech 65-A80, N50NP, Soldotna, AK, February 4, 1985 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report - Date: February 4, 1985, 19:51 local (23:51 UTC) - Place: Soldotna, AK - Coordinates: 60.320632, -150.790695 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.3206&lon=-150.7907&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 9 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 15828 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA85AA012 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15828/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA85AA012 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - anti-ice/deice system - inadequate (contributing factor) - maintenance - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - other airport/runway maintenance - not maintained, company/operator management (contributing factor) - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (contributing factor) - meteorological service - inadequate, company/operator management (contributing factor) - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - wing - ice (contributing factor) - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor) - missed approach - initiated, pilot in command - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, circling (ifr) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - missed approach - improper, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor) - minimum descent altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis DURING ARRIVAL, THE CREW OF NPA FLT 1802 CONTACTED THE COMPANY WX OBSERVER AT SOLDOTNA WHO ADVISED THE WX WAS: WND CALM,CEILING 600 TO 800 FT, VIS 8 TO 10 MI, NO PRECIP. THEY MADE AN NDB APCH, BUT MISSED THE APCH & REQUESTED ANOTHER APCH. APRX 1 MIN LATER, THE CREW REPORTED THE ACFT HAD ACCUMULATED A HVY LOAD OF ICE. THEY COULD HAVE DIVERTED NEARBY TO KENAIFOR AN ILS APCH, BUT ELECTED TO MAKE A VOR APCH BACK TO SOLDOTNA. WHILE BEING VECTORED, THEY MADE 2 MORE CHECKS WITH THEWX OBSERVER WHO ADVISED THE WX HAD DETERIORATED TO BELOW MINS & RECOMMENDED DIVERTING, BUT THE CREW DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE.SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ON HI TERRAIN APRX 1.5 MI SE OF THE ARPT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE ACFT WAS CIRCLING WHEN IT CRASHED. CIRCLING WAS NOT AUTHORIZED SOUTH OF RWY 7/25. INV REVEALED RECURRING PRBLMS WITH THE ANTI-ICESYS, ITS 'SINGLE' MODE WAS INOP, 2 DE-ICE BOOTS WERE MISSING FM PROP BLADES. WX STATION LISTED ONLY 1 LGTD MARKER (1/4 MI AWAY) FOR VIS REF; MIN LNDG VIS WAS 1 MI; CEILOMETER WAS INOP. NO FAA INSPN OF WX STATION IN 2 YRS. ICG FORCASTED. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50NP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50NP-2015-05-05), registration cancelled 2015-05-05, S/N LD-231, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 65-A80 - Registry model: [Beech 65-A80](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-65-a80) (registry code 1152808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IGSO-540-B1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-igso-540-b1a) (registry code 41535, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LD231 - Airframe hours: 12106 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-720-A1B 400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: North Pacific Airlines - Registered owner: North Pacific Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, January 26, 1985, 92 hours before - Departed: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK - Destination: SXQ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SXQ, Soldotna, runway 25, 4,973 × 130 ft, macadam ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 7,288 total, 2,985 in this make and model, 6,150 as pilot in command, 255 in the last 90 days, 96 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 30° at 5 knots - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ENA, 9 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 19850204005919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850204005919A), Feb 4, 1985: Beech 65A80, Soldotna, AK, Destroyed, 7 fatal. Tried to land below minimums. Struck terrain on circling missed approach. Icing on airframe. Deice system defective 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.