# NTSB GAA16CA518: Beech C24, N4690M, Andrews, OR, September 28, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 28, 2016, 00:30 local (07:30 UTC) - Place: Andrews, OR - Coordinates: 42.423889, -118.605552 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4239&lon=-118.6056&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 6, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94108 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA518 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94108/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94108 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA518 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to land off airport at night and his lack of positional awareness, which resulted in his landing at the wrong location and impacting a fence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Perception/orientation/illusion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022000): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C24R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022000/cases.md?model=1151254), [All aircraft, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022000/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C24R, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1151254), [All aircraft, 3,100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Beech C24R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=1151254), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Beech C24R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=1151254), [All aircraft, 315 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Beech C24R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=1151254), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Beech C24R, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1151254), [All aircraft, 3,368 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech C24R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=1151254), [All aircraft, 1,330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech C24R, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151254), [All aircraft, 10,154 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had intended to land on a dry creek bed at night to meet his friend and drop off parts for a jet car. He further reported that he mistakenly landed in a field and impacted a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he had intended to land on a dry creek bed at night to meet his friend and drop off parts for a jet car. He further reported that he mistakenly landed in a field and impacted a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4690M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4690M-2017-05-08), registration cancelled 2017-05-08, S/N MC-585, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH C24 (R) - Registry model: [Beech C24R](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c24r) (registry code 1151254) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: MC-585 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 3664 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A186 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2016 - Departed: AWO, ARLINGTON, WA - Destination: Andrews, OR - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 7, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 23,025 total, 200 in this make and model, 16,832 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 3.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 50° at 9 knots - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KREO, 34 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 20160928020879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160928020879A), Sep 28, 2016: Beech C24R, Andrews, OR, Substantial damage. Pilot departed burns airport (bno) with the intended destination, alvord dry lake, Oregon. Pilot stated the following: he had made arrangements with a friend… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 18, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94108. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448313&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448314&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.