# NTSB FTW90LA087: Beech 100, N696JB, Uvalde, TX, March 28, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 27, 1990, 19:35 local (Mar 28, 1990, 01:35 UTC)
- Place: Uvalde, TX
- Coordinates: 29.209627, -99.780944 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2096&lon=-99.7809&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 10, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23118
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90LA087
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23118/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90LA087

## Probable cause

IMPROPER IFR PROCEDURE BY THE PILOT BY NOT MAINTAINING THE MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE (MDA) FOR THAT SEGMENT OF THE APPROACH. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, LOW CEILING, FOG, AND RAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - minimum descent altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOTS WERE MAKING AN NDB APPROACH TO AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT THAT WAS 941 FEET MSL. THE NDB WAS 1.8 NM FROM THE AIRPORT, AND THE PILOTS WERE SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE (MDA) OF 1,540 FEET UNTIL THE RUNWAY WAS IN SIGHT. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, ATC HAD TOLD THEM THAT THEY WERE 15 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILES FROM THE AIRPORT, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TOP OF A HILL, AT A POINT 990 FEET MSL. THE AIRPLANE WAS DEMOLISHED BY IMPACT AND POST-IMPACT FIRE. THE WEATHER WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 300 FEET OVERCAST AND ONE MILE VISIBILITY. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE REPORTED OR DISCOVERED. THE LACK OF A LOCAL ALTIMETER SETTING INCREASED THE MDA BY 240 FEET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N696JB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N696JB-1990-06-12), registration cancelled 1990-06-12, S/N B13 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 100
- Registry model: [Beech 100](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-100) (registry code 1152916) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: B13
- Engines: P&W PT6A-28 680 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Briscoe, Dolph, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, July 12, 1989, 148 hours before
- Departed: COT, COTULLA, TX
- Destination: UVA, UVALDE, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: UVA, Garner Field, runway 33, 5,250 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 27,725 total, 2,700 in this make and model, 26,851 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19900327008979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900327008979A), Mar 27, 1990: Beech 100BEECH, Uvalde, TX, Destroyed. Crashed and burned short of runway on an NDB approach. Weather below approach minimal. Descended below mda.

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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