# NTSB DCA88MA005: Beech 1900C, N401RA, Homer, AK, November 23, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: November 23, 1987, 18:25 local (22:25 UTC)
- Place: Homer, AK
- Coordinates: 59.399574, -151.319366 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.3996&lon=-151.3194&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 18 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 8, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15892
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA88MA005
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15892/pdf
- Board report AAR8811 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8811.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA88MA005

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - improper (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - icing conditions
  - wing - ice
  - lowering of flaps - initiated (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DRG ARR, THE ACFT (RYAN FLT 103) CRASHED SHORT OF RWY 3. THE FUSELAGE STAYED INTACT DRG IMPACT, BUT THE BELLY STRUCTURE WAS COMPRESSED & VERTICAL DECELERATION FORCES EXCEEDED THE DESIGN CAPABILITY OF THE SEATS. RESCUE PSNL HAD DIFFICULTY SHUTTING OFF THE ACFT'S ELEC PWR WHICH DELAYED REMOVAL OF THE 1ST OFFICER (F/O) FM THE ACFT. AN INV REVEALED THE ACFT WAS LOADED WITH APRX 600 LBS MORE CARGO THAN THE F/O HAD REQUESTED. THE CENTER-OF-GRAVITY (CG) WAS 8 TO 11 INCHES BEHINDTHE ALLOWABLE AFT LIMIT & THE FLT CREW DID NOT COMPLY WITH COMPANY & FAA PROCEDURES IN COMPUTING THE CG. DRG FLT, UP TO 3/8 INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATED ON THE ACFT'S LEADING EDGES. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE CREW LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT AS THE FLAPS WERE LOWERED. THE RGT FLAP ACTUATOR WAS FND IN THE 7 TO 12 DEG POSITION & THE STABILIZER TRIM WAS FND AT THE FULL NOSE DOWN POSITION. FLT TESTS SHOWED THERE WOULD BE NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTY IN CONTROLLING THE ACFT WITH UP TO 1.5' OF ICE ON THE LEADING EDGES & THAT STATIC STABILITY WOULD DETERIORATE DRG FLAP EXTN WITH THE AFT CG CONFIGURATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N401RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N401RA-1991-03-21), registration cancelled 1991-03-21, S/N UB58 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 1900C
- Registry model: [Beech 1900C](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-1900c) (registry code 1154161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: P&W PT6A-65B 1100 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Ryan Air Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: KDK, KODIAK, AK
- Destination: HOM
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HMR, Homer, runway 3, 7,400 × 150 ft, macadam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 7,087 total, 4,420 in this make and model, 96 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 340° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19871123080079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871123080079A), Nov 23, 1987: Beech 1900, Homer, AK, Destroyed, 18 fatal. 600LBS over gross and aft of CG,pitched up and stalled on applying full flaps. Crashed in near level attitude.

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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