# NTSB LAX93FA045: Beech D50A, N102F, Ely, NV, October 29, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 29, 1992, 09:54 local (17:54 UTC)
- Place: Ely, NV
- Coordinates: 39.41946, -114.999008 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4195&lon=-114.9990&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27811
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93FA045
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27811/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93FA045

## Probable cause

1) THE PILOTS DECISION TO ATTEMPT VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, WHICH INCLUDED MOUNTAIN OBSCUREMENT AND SEVERE MIXED ICING, AND, 2) HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO A PROBABLE AERODYNAMIC STALL INDUCED BY SEVERE AIRFRAME ICING.  FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: 1) THE FORECAST WEATHER CONDITIONS OF ICING, LOW CLOUD CEILINGS AND MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION, AND 2) THE PILOTS FAILURE TO OBTAIN EITHER PREFLIGHT OR INFLIGHT WEATHER INFORMATION FOR HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - anti-ice/deice system - not installed (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight briefing service - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PILOT AND PASSENGER DEPARTED SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR IDAHO. EN ROUTE THEY STOPPED ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF LAS VEGAS WHERE THERE WAS A DIRT LANDING STRIP. THE NEXT MORNING A WITNESS SAW THE AIRPLANE DEPART AT ABOUT 0800 HOURS. THERE WAS NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED NOR ANY RECORD OF EITHER A PREFLIGHT OR INFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING. THE AIRPLANE NEVER ARRIVED AT THE DESTINATION. THE AIRPLANE WAS LOCATED BY A NEVADA FISH AND GAME HELICOPTER ABOUT 21 DAYS AFTER IT HAD DISAPPEARED. THE AIRPLANE HAD IMPACTED A MOUNTAIN AT ABOUT 8300 FEET MSL, IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE AT GREAT SPEED. WEATHER DATA REVEALED THAT IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT THE CEILING WAS OVERCAST AT 2700 FEET AGL, WITH TOPS FROM 17000 TO 19000 FEET MSL AND SEVERE MIXED ICING WAS PRESENT ABOVE THE 9,500 FOOT MSL FREEZING LEVEL. THE AIRPLANE HAD NO DEICE OR ANTIICE EQUIPMENT, THE OXYGEN SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N102F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N102F-2011-06-01), registration cancelled 2011-06-01, S/N DH-173, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D50A
- Registry model: [Beech D50A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d50a) (registry code 1152516) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IGSO-540-B1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-igso-540-b1a) (registry code 41535, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: DH-173
- Airframe hours: 4575
- Engines: LYCOMING IGSO-540-B1A 380 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: James L. Richards
- Registered owner: James L. Richards
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 22, 1992
- Departed: 0L7, JEAN, NV
- Destination: S67, NAMPA, ID

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; flight hours: 12,000 total, 10 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ELY, 6 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 19921029047429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921029047429A), Oct 29, 1992: Beech D50A, Ely, NV, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into side of cloud obscured mountain. No record weather brief.

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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