# NTSB FTW93LA077: Beech 65-A90, N363N, Marfa, TX, January 30, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 29, 1993, 19:40 local (Jan 30, 1993, 01:40 UTC) - Place: Marfa, TX - Coordinates: 30.310108, -104.020439 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3101&lon=-104.0204&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 8 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 25, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18691 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18691/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA077 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S CONTINUED DESCENT BELOW THE PROPER ALTITUDE. FACTORS WERE THE DARK NIGHT, FOG, AND THE CREW'S POOR COORDINATION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, circling (ifr) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - descent - continued, pilot in command (cause) - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - crew/group coordination - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis DURING A DARK NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, THE AIRPLANE WAS CLEARED FOR A VOR APPROACH TO RUNWAY 30. DUE TO UNFAVORABLE WINDS, THE PILOT ELECTED TO CIRCLE TO LAND ON RUNWAY 12. WHILE ON A RIGHT DOWNWIND, VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY WAS LOST AND NOT REESTABLISHED. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE DESCENT ON THE BASE LEG AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN ## Factual narrative On January 29, 1993, at approximately 1940 central standard time, a Beech 65 A90 twin engine airplane, N363N, was substantially damaged after impacting the ground while executing a circling approach to runway 12 at the Marfa Municipal Airport in Marfa, Texas. The two airline transport pilots and their 6 passengers were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the corporate flight. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane was cleared for the VOR RWY 30 approach to the Marfa Airport. Due to the easterly winds, the crew elected to execute a circling approach to land on runway 12. At circling minimums, they turned left to circle on the southwest side of the airport and establish themselves on a right downwind. As the airplane was turning right base to final, the right main gear and the right wing tip impacted the ground. The right engine and the two remaining landing gears separated as the airplane slid over the rough desert ground. According to the pilot's enclosed report, the copilot reported losing sight of the runway as the airplane was abeam the approach end of the landing runway. The captain looked out of the copilot's window and regained visual contact with the runway and pointed it out to the copilot. He added that as the airplane passed through the base leg heading, he asked his copilot if he still had the runway in sight. The pilot stated that he did not hear a response from his copilot so he looked outside to attempt to locate the runway, but all he saw was blackness. At the time of initial ground impact, the pilot stated that his altimeter read 5,000 feet. Field elevation was 4,847 feet. After sliding for approximately 470 feet, the airplane came to rest on a heading of 047 degrees. All 8 occupants exited the airplane by means of the main cabin door unassisted. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies. However, he did report that he thought he was lower than his instruments indicated during the base leg. A post accident examination of the airplane instruments and electrical systems was completed between February 25, 1993, and March 11, 1993. Both pitot static systems were tested in accordance to the manufacturer's specifications and found within limits. The pilot's altimeter was likewise tested in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications, and also found to be within limits below 16,000 feet. The electrical systems were tested within limits, with the exception of the number 2 inverter which was found to be inoperative for undetermined reason. The VOR approach to runway 30 at Marfa, Texas, was flight checked by the FAA following the accident and found to be within prescribed limits. The wreckage was released to the owner's representative at the accident site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N363N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N363N-2013-03-07), registration cancelled 2013-03-07, S/N LJ-236, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 65-A90 - Registry model: [Beech 65-A90](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-65-a90) (registry code 1152908) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LJ-236 - Airframe hours: 6226 - Engines: P&W PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Operator: Johnson, Dennis, doing business as 363 Kingair Ltd. - Registered owner: Johnson, Dennis - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, September 18, 1992, 76 hours before - Departed: HOU, HOUSTON, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MRF, Marfa Municipal, runway 12, 5,303 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,016 total, 675 in this make and model, 1,558 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 50° at 9 knots - Visibility: 1.25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MRF, 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 19930129001189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930129001189A), Jan 29, 1993: Beech 65A90, Marfa, TX, Substantial damage. Elected tocircle after VOR approach. Lost sight of runway in fog. Wing hit ground turning base to final too low. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.