DCA85AA035

NTSB accident investigation · Beech 99 · Auburn, ME · August 26, 1985

Accident · FatalFinal report
Date
August 25, 1985, 22:05 local (Aug 26, 1985, 02:05 UTC)
Place
Auburn, ME
Injuries
8 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N300WPBeech 99
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed
Report
Board-adopted at Board Meeting
NTSB office
Major Investigations Division
Safety recommendations
Yes
FAA report
19850825077549A
Case key
15837

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight collision with objectApproach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
Light condition - dark night
Weather condition - low ceiling
Weather condition - fog
Weather condition - rain
Ifr procedure - improperPilot in commandCause
Visual/aural perceptionPilot in command
Instructions,written/verbal - improperAtc personnel(dep/apch)Factor
Missed approach - not performedPilot in commandCause
Object - tree(s)
Decision height - not identifiedPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

Drg arr, aprx 12 mi south of the final apch fix (faf), flt 1808 was clrd for an ILS rwy 4 apch. Aprx 3 min later, ATC controller (ctlr) noted acft was tracking east of the localizer (LOC) course. He asked if the flt was rcvg the ILS LOC. Capt replied 'not yet we haven't intercepted.' The ctlr then stated 'roger, turn left hdg 340, show you slightly rgt ofit.' Aprx 45 sec later, as the acft was crossing the LOC at the faf with a large intercept angle, the capt acknowledgedrcvg it. The acft contd past the faf at a relatively fast speed, but dscndg very slow. Also, it contd left of the LOC, then crossed back to the rgt & went abv, then blo the glide slope. Subsequently, the acft hit trees 4007' short & 440' rgt of the rwy. No preimpact part failure/malfunction was fnd. There was evidence that crew coordination was not consis-tently practiced among company crewmembers drg routine opns. Prev inv revealed Beech 99 acft had cockpit noise lvl of up to 97 db. FAA surveillance was affected adversely by lack of manpwr. Ovrall exp lvl of company plts reduced by turnovr.

Aircraft

Registration
N300WP
Reported as
Beech 99
Category
Airplane
Serial number
U-22
Airframe hours
30,335
Engine
P&W PT6A-20, turbo prop
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Part 135
Registered owner
Bar Harbor Airlines
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
BOS · Boston, MA
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
Auburn-Lewiston Muni, runway 4, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
37
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine sea, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
5,153 total · 504 in this make and model · 2,999 as pilot in command · 278 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Wind
20° at 5 knots
Visibility
1 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
300 ft
Temperature
61 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
LEW, 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.