# NTSB LAX92FA065: Beech 58P, N766BA, Flagstaff, AZ, December 20, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 20, 1991, 09:12 local (16:12 UTC)
- Place: Flagstaff, AZ
- Location: 35.1378° N, 111.6867° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from FLAGSTAFF PULLIAM (FLG), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1378&lon=-111.6867&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 3, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27395
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92FA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27395/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92FA065

## Probable cause

**This report was modified on 4/21/2016. Please see the public docket for this accident for additional information.**

the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed at low altitude, which resulted in a stall and loss of airplane control during a circling approach to landing in instrument meteorological conditions.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, circling (ifr)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - roadway/highway

## Analysis

**This report was modified on 4/21/2016. Please see the public docket for this accident for additional information.**

The instrument-rated commercial pilot was executing a circling VOR/DME instrument approach in IFR conditions. The pilot reported the runway in sight and was circling to land west of the airport just before the accident. Witnesses reported that the airplane descended in a near vertical attitude from the overcast, striking a highway curb lane about .75 miles from the airport. No evidence of preimpact failures or malfunctions with the primary flight controls or engines was found. The pitch trim position could not be determined conclusively because the trim control cables were broken and disrupted by impact. However, evidence was not sufficient to conclude that full nose-down trim was present at the time of upset. An examination of the autopilot annunciator module indicated that the HDG, NAV, AUTOTRIM and FAIL warning lights may have been illuminated. When the autopilot detects a trim system failure, the trim servo is deactivated and the AUTOTRIM and FAIL warning lights will flash. The AUTOTRIM light will also flash if the trim master switch is turned off, making the autopilot system evidence inconclusive.

Because the autopilot system evidence was inconclusive, the role of the autopilot in the accident could not be determined. However, airplane descent information provided by witnesses and impact evidence were consistent with an aerodynamic stall at low altitude and were not consistent with an uncorrected autopilot induced pitch-down excursion.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N766BA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N766BA-1992-04-17), registration cancelled 1992-04-17, S/N TJ338 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 58P
- Registry model: [Beech 58P](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58p) (registry code 1152744) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TJ-338
- Airframe hours: 2431
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-WB 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: D. Kaufman
- Registered owner: Ian Herzog & D. Kaufman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 25, 1991
- Departed: PRC, PRESCOTT, AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: FLG, Flagstaff, runway 3, 6,999 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; 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: 2,867 total, 605 in this make and model, 29 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FLG, 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 19911220057019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911220057019A), Dec 20, 1991: Beech 58P, Flagstaff, AZ, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Wreckage indicates pilot exerted control pressure with autopilot on causing runaway trim lost control and crashed.

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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