# NTSB DEN88FA202: Beech 200, N1283, Jackson, WY, September 12, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 11, 1988, 21:57 local (Sep 12, 1988, 03:57 UTC)
- Place: Jackson, WY
- Coordinates: 43.470726, -110.76094 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4707&lon=-110.7609&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17385
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88FA202
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17385/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88FA202

## Sequence of events

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

- Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, climb - to cruise
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - altitude - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - fatigue(flight schedule), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT AND HIS TWO PAX HAD JUST ARRIVED AT THE JACKSON HOLE AIRPORT (JAX) APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT DROPPED OFF HIS PAX AND STEPPED INTO OPERATIONS FOR A SHORT BREAK. HE THEN RETURNED TO THE ACFT BY HIMSELF FOR A RETURN FLT TO CALIFORNIA. IT WAS A VERY DARK NIGHT WITH A 2000 FT OVERCAST AND NO VISIBLE HORIZON. THE PLT HAD DEPARTED REDDING, CA AT 1357 HOURS AND HAD BEEN ON CONTINOUS FLT DUTY FROM THAT TIME UNTIL THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. A WITNESS STATED THE PLT SEEMED TO BE TIRED AND HUNGRY. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED MAKING A NORMAL NIGHT TAKEOFF. WITNESSES STATED THAT AS THE ACFT TURNED FROM CROSSWIND TO DOWNWIND IT APPEARED THAT THE PLT HAD TROUBLE CONTROLLING THE ACFT. AFTER THE ACFT MADE A FEW EXTREME UP AND DOWN MANEUVERS, IT APPEARED TO PROCEED TO THE EAST. THE NEXT TIME THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED, IT WAS AGAIN CLIMBING AND DESCENDING RAPIDLY AND SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A VERTICAL DIVE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1283](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1283-1989-02-06), registration cancelled 1989-02-06, S/N BB90 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 200
- Registry model: [Beech 200](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-200) (registry code 1152920) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BB90
- Airframe hours: 5677
- Engines: P&W PT-6A-41 850 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Snowy Butte Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 23, 1988, 30 hours before
- Departed: JAC, JACKSON, WY
- Destination: RDD, REDDING, CA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; 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: 4,400 total, 62 in this make and model, 4,150 as pilot in command, 262 in the last 90 days, 99 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: JAC, 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 19880911038249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880911038249A), Sep 11, 1988: Beech 200BEECH, Jackson, WY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Erratic climbs and dives near airport then aircraft dived vertically to ground. Pilot fatigue suspected.

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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