LAX92LA153

NTSB accident investigation · Beech F33A · Payson, AZ · March 27, 1992

Accident · FatalLimited investigationFinal report
Date
March 27, 1992, 13:12 local (20:12 UTC)
Place
Payson, AZ
Injuries
2 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Uncontrolled descent
Aircraft
N8000JBeech F33A
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 26, 1993
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19920327007599A
Case key
27583

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's poor preflight planning/preparation by intentionally flying into known adverse weather and his poor in-flight decision by not flying to an alternate airport when the airplane began to encounter icing. Contributing to this accident was the icing condition.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
Weather condition - icing conditionsFactor
Preflight planning/preparation - poorPilot in commandCause
Flight into known adverse weather - intentionalPilot in commandCause
In-flight planning/decision - poorPilot in commandCause
Not performedPilot in commandCause

Analysis

The pilot received a weather briefing from the flight service station before departing on the accident flight. The weather briefer advised the pilot of forecasted icing conditions along the intended route of flight. The airplane was not equipped with any anti or deicing systems. About 15 minutes after departing while at 14,000 ft MSL ice began to form on the airplane and the pilot asked for a lower altitude and a ground speed check. The airplane's ground speed was 170 KTS. 20 minutes later the pilot again requested a lower altitude but the controller was unable due to the mea. About 18 minutes later the pilot asked for a ground speed check and the controller responded, 150 knots and 11 minutes later cleared the flight to 12,000 ft. about 19 minutes later the pilot reported that the airplane was picking up rime ice and again requested a lower altitude. About 7 minutes later the controller reported the airplane's ground speed was 120 knots. About 14 minutes later the pilot reported having problems maintaining airspeed and altitude. Six minutes later the pilot reported that he was unable to maintain the altitude and radar contact was lost 2 minutes later. The airplane collided with upsloping terrain in a wings level, nose down attitude.

Aircraft

Registration
N8000J
Reported as
Beech F33A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
CE-1509
Engine
Continental IO-520-BB, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Steering Committee Corp.
Registered owner
Steering Committee Corp.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Unknown · January 2, 2000
Departed
DRO · Durango, CO
Destination
PHX · Phoenix, AZ
Flight plan
IFR

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
55
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Expired
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
2,349 total · 86 in this make and model · 39 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Temperature
45 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.