# NTSB FTW83FA431: Rockwell 690A, N111QL, Nacogdoches, TX, September 19, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 18, 1983, 19:55 local (Sep 19, 1983, 00:55 UTC)
- Place: Nacogdoches, TX
- Coordinates: 31.610549, -94.650047 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6105&lon=-94.6500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20764
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83FA431
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20764/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83FA431

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - minimum descent altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N111QL-1993-01-11), registration cancelled 1993-01-11, S/N 11312 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Rockwell 690A
- Registry model: [Rockwell International 690A](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-690a) (registry code 7630515) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 11312
- Airframe hours: 3077
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830918053019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830918053019A), Sep 18, 1983: Gulstm 690A, Nacogdoches, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft crashed into trees about 3 miles short of airport during an NDB approach.

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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