# NTSB IAD74AI015: Beech B55, N1742W, Agusta Springs, VA, September 12, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 12, 1973
- Place: Agusta Springs, VA · AGUSTA SPRINGS, VA
- Location: 38.1030° N, 79.3363° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Augusta Springs, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1030&lon=-79.3363&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 26, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188617
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD74AI015
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD74AI015

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2749  73/9/12    AGUSTA SPRINGS,VA   BEECH B55           CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 55, 6900
        TIME - 0730                    N1742W              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 600 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BECKLEY,W VA                WANESBORO,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SUNGLARE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN/LOWER SCATTERED                                    2500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       57
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           70                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- LETDOWN THRU FOG.REDUCED VSBY.HIT TOP OF MTN RIDGE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1742W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1742W-1973-11-15), registration cancelled 1973-11-15, S/N TC-1494 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B55
- Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19730912031579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730912031579A), Sep 12, 1973: Beech A56TC, Agusta Springs, VA, Destroyed. Letdown thru fog. Reduced vsby. Hit top of mtn ridge.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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