# NTSB DCA85AA037: Beech B99, N339HA, Grottoes, VA, September 23, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: September 23, 1985, 10:20 local (14:20 UTC)
- Place: Grottoes, VA
- Coordinates: 38.259658, -78.819725 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2597&lon=-78.8197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 14 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15839
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA85AA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15839/pdf
- Board report AAR8607 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8607.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA85AA037

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach
  - fuselage,crew compartment - other (contributing factor)
  - communications - poor (contributing factor)
  - flight/nav instruments - incorrect (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,installation - improper (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight/navigation instrument(s) - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent (cause)
  - proper alignment - not maintained (cause)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - unsafe/hazardous condition - not identified (cause)
  - inadequate training, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - inadequate training, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACFT ARR FM THE NE, CROSSED OVR THE ARPT IN IMC CONDS & CONTD TWD THE SW TO THE INITIAL APCH FIX (IAF) FOR AN ILS RWY 4 APCH. THE IAF WAS OVR THE OUTER MARKER (OM), 4.2 MI SW OF THE ARPT. AS THE ACFT DEPTD THE IAF, IT CONTD OUTBND TWD THE SW ON AN IMPRECISE TRACK FOR APRX 1 MIN, MADE A PROCEDURE TURN (PT) BY TURNING RGT (WEST), THEN BACK LEFT (EAST) TWD THE LOCALIZER (LOC). INBND HDG FOR THE LOC WAS 045 DEG. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST DRG THE PT. AS THE PT WAS COMPLETED, THE ACFT ANGLED TO THE EAST OF THE LOC & INTERCEPTED THE 045 DEG RADIAL OF THE MONTEBELLO (MOL) VOR. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT HIT A MTN TOP WHILE IN LVL FLT AT 2400' ALONG THE MOL 045 RADIAL. CLD BASES WERE AT APRX 2000'. NO PREIMPACT PART PRBLM WAS FND. ACFT RDO INSTLN WAS NONSTANDARD, NOT FAA APPROVED; 1 ADF & 2 NAV DISPLAYS WERE IN UNSUIT LOCATION FOR COPLT. RDO TRANSCRIPT INDCD PLTS WERE UNCERTAIN OF GEOGRAPHIC PSN BFR IMPACT. COMPANY PLT EXP REDUCED BY RECENT PLT TURNOVER. BOTH PLTS HAD LMTD EXP IN RESPECTIVE PSNS. HI NOISE LVL IN COCKPIT MADE CONVERSATION DIFFICULT. LACK OF FAA SURVEILLANCE

## Aircraft

- Registration: N339HA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B99
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: U-156
- Engines: P&W PT6A-27 680 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Henson Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: BWI, BALTIMORE, MD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SHD, Shenandoah Valley, runway 4, 6,002 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,447 total, 301 in this make and model, 2,428 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SHD, 6 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 19850923077429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850923077429A), Sep 23, 1985: Beech B99, Staunton-Waynes, VA, Destroyed, 12 fatal. Aircraft impacted side of a hill. Pilot may have been using an incorrect navaid. Pilot stress may have contributed.

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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