# NTSB DCA85AA035: Beech 99, N300WP, Auburn, ME, August 26, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: August 25, 1985, 22:05 local (Aug 26, 1985, 02:05 UTC)
- Place: Auburn, ME
- Location: 44.0979° N, 70.2312° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Auburn, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0979&lon=-70.2312&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 8 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15837
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA85AA035
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15837/pdf
- Board report AAR8606 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8606.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA85AA035

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - weather condition - fog
  - weather condition - rain
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command
  - instructions,written/verbal - improper, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor)
  - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)
  - decision height - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 99
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: U-22
- Airframe hours: 30335
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 37; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850825077549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850825077549A), Aug 25, 1985: Beech 99, Auburn, ME, Destroyed, 6 fatal. The aircraft struck trees on final. The pilot accepted nonstandard vectors and continued an unstabilized approach.

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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