# NTSB FTW85FA203: Beech B 55, N613MC, Brownwood, TX, April 30, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 30, 1985, 07:25 local (12:25 UTC)
- Place: Brownwood, TX
- Coordinates: 31.719642, -98.970474 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7196&lon=-98.9705&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21543
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85FA203
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21543/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85FA203

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - weather evaluation - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - improper decision, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - normal
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - minimum descent altitude - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PROFESSIONAL PILOT WAS FAMILIAR WITH HIS DESTINATION. HE HAD MADE THE SAME TRIP MANY TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. DESTINATION WEATHER INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE THAT EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND ALTHOUGH HE INDICATED OVER THE RADIO THAT HE WAS AWARE OF THE POOR CONDITIONS, HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE HIS APPROACH. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH GRADUALLY RISING TERRAIN IN LEVEL FLIGHT. MULTIPLE INDICATIONS OF POWER AND CONTROLLABILITY WERE FOUND ON SCENE AND IN SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N613MC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B 55
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC-2426
- Airframe hours: 1000
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-L 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Mccoy Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 8, 1985, 60 hours before
- Departed: T98, SAM MARCOS, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BWD, Brownwood, runway 17, 5,598 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 7,940 total, 1,000 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BWD, 1 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 19850430015039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850430015039A), Apr 30, 1985: Beech 95B55, Brownwood, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft struck trees and impacted terrain while on final approach in heavy fog.

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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