# NTSB LAX92LA153: Beech F33A, N8000J, Payson, AZ, March 27, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 27, 1992, 13:12 local (20:12 UTC)
- Place: Payson, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.18946, -111.169723 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1895&lon=-111.1697&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27583
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA153
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27583/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA153

## 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

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8000J-1992-08-06), registration cancelled 1992-08-06, S/N CE1509 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH F33A
- Registry model: [Beech F33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f33a) (registry code 1151425) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: CE-1509
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920327007599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920327007599A), Mar 27, 1992: Beech F33A, Payson, AZ, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Accumulated ice en route. Continued until unable sustain altitude. Stall mushed into cloud obscured mountain.

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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