- Date
- December 11, 1991, 09:41 local (14:41 UTC)
- Place
- Rome, GA
- Injuries
- 9 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N25BRBeech 400
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 8, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations
- Yes
- FAA report
- 19911211055649A
- Case key
- 15953
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The captain's decision to initiate visual flight into an area of known mountainous terrain and low ceilings and the failure of the flightcrew to maintain awareness of their proximity to the terrain.
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.
Analysis
Before takeoff, an IFR flt plan was filed for a 15 min flt from Rome, GA, to huntsville, AL. Takeoff was commenced at 0937 EST with the coplt flying the acft. After a VFR takeoff, the capt contacted atlanta center to obtain an IFR clnc. The controller advised that other traffic was in the area & instructed the flt to remain VFR (while an IFR clnc was being arranged). At that time, the flt rprtd at 1300' in VFR conds. While waiting for an IFR clnc, the crew became concerned about higher terrain & low ceilings. At about 0940, the capt directed the coplt to fly 'back to the right.' Aprx 1 min later, the CVR stopped recording & radio contact was lost with the acft. Later, the acft was found where it had collided with the top of mt lavendar. Elevation of the crash site was aprx 1580' MSL. The acft was not equipped with a ground proximity warning sys. (For details see: summary report)
Aircraft
- Registration
- N25BR
- Reported as
- Beech 400
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- RJ-57
- Engine
- P&W JT15D-5, 2,900 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Executive/Corporate · Part 91
- Operator
- Bruno'S Inc
- Registered owner
- B.R. Air Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · October 17, 1991 · 17 hours before
- Departed
- RMG · Rome, GA
- Destination
- HSV · Huntsville, AL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- RMG
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 17,000 total · 600 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RMG, 7 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.