FTW83FA431

NTSB accident investigation · Rockwell 690A · Nacogdoches, TX · September 19, 1983

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
September 18, 1983, 19:55 local (Sep 19, 1983, 00:55 UTC)
Place
Nacogdoches, TX
Injuries
2 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N111QLRockwell 690A
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Dusk
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19830918053019A
Case key
20764

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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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.

In flight encounter with weatherApproach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
Preflight planning/preparation - inadequatePilot in commandFactor
Light condition - duskFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - fogFactor
Weather condition - rainFactor
Weather condition - below approach/landing minimumsFactor
In flight collision with objectApproach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
Ifr procedure - improperPilot in commandCause
Overconfidence in personal abilityPilot in commandFactor
Minimum descent altitude - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Object - tree(s)Factor
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

Analysis

After transporting passengers from longview, TX to Oklahoma city, ok & return to longview, the acft was refueled for a flt back to Nacogdoches, TX, where the acft was based. About 12 min after takeoff, the plt was cleared for an NDB apch to Nacogdoches & instructed to contact the lufkin fss for wx & current altimeter setting. During the NDB apch, the acft collided with trees, crashed & burned. An investigation revealed no evidence of either an eng or airframe failure or malfunction. Initial impact occurred with trees about 700 yds east of the NDB site. Initially, trees were cut in an upsloping manner where the terrain sloped upwards. Elevation of the crash site was 530 ft MSL. The min descent alt (mda) was 900 ft MSL. About 28 mi north, the 1955 CDT wx at lufkin was, in part: 3500 ft broken, visibility 5 mi. However, witnesses at Nacogdoches reported considerably lower ceilings, reduced visibility & some hilltops obscured by clouds. A plt witness reported light rain, fog in the treetops. Reportedly, the arpt was below mins

Aircraft

Registration
N111QL
Reported as
Rockwell 690A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
11312
Airframe hours
3,077
Engine
Airesearch TPE-331-5-251, 718 horsepower, turbo prop
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Positioning · Part 91
Registered owner
Sam W. Rankin
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · July 29, 1983 · 6 hours before
Departed
GGG · Longview, TX
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
OCH · East Texas Regional, runway 15, 3,600 × 75 ft, asphalt

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
32
Certificate
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
3,310 total · 135 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Dusk
Wind
140° at 4 knots
Temperature
73 °F, dew point 72 °F
Observed at
LFK, 28 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.