# NTSB DEN86FA128: Swearingen SA226AT, N577KA, Billings, MT, May 8, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 7, 1986, 23:45 local (May 8, 1986, 05:45 UTC)
- Place: Billings, MT
- Coordinates: 45.870525, -108.470565 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8705&lon=-108.4706&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16819
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86FA128
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16819/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86FA128

## 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)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - physical impairment(other cardiovascular), pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN IN IMC, THE PLT EXECUTED A MISSED APPROACH AFTER FLYING A LOCALIZER BACK COURSE 27 APPROACH. DURING A SUBSEQUENT ILS RWY 09L APPROACH, RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WITH THE ACFT WAS LOST LOST. THE ACFT WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ON THE INBOUND APPROACH COURSE 1/2 MILE EAST OF THE SAIGE LOCATOR OUTER MARKER. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT FORCES AND A POST IMPACT FIRE. THE AUTOPSY AND MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE PLT LED TO A CONCLUSION THAT HE WAS INCAPACITATED AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE PLTS FLT TIME WAS NOT REPORTED AND HIS LOGS WERE NOT LOCATED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N577KA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N577KA-2014-12-17), registration cancelled 2014-12-17, S/N AT008, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA226AT
- Registry model: [Swearingen SA-226AT](https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa-226at) (registry code 8780405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [AiResearch 331SER 1008HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-331ser-1008hp) (registry code 01512, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AT008
- Airframe hours: 2950
- Engines: GARRETT TPE331-3U303G 840 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Lester C. Barckley, doing business as Barckley Airlines
- Registered owner: Career Aviation Sales Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, April 28, 1986, 50 hours before
- Departed: HLN, HELENA, MT
- Destination: BIL, BILLINGS, MT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BIL, Logan, runway 9L, 10,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 30° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BIL, 5 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 19860507065959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860507065959A), May 7, 1986: Swrngn SA226AT, Billings, MT, Destroyed. Aircraft struck wires on final approach and was destroyed. Pilot suffered a heart attack prior to impact.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.