# NTSB MKC85FA037: Aero Commander 690A, N9229Y, Pea Ridge, AR, December 21, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 20, 1984, 19:20 local (Dec 21, 1984, 01:20 UTC)
- Place: Pea Ridge, AR
- Coordinates: 36.450664, -94.109802 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4507&lon=-94.1098&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33815
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC85FA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33815/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC85FA037

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - air/ground communications - inattentive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - complacency, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - altimeter setting - inaccurate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - minimum descent altitude - below, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

PLT WAS CLEARED FOR VOR/DME APPROACH TO ROGERS ARPT BY FAYETTEVILLE APCH CONTROL; FAYETTEVILLE ALTIMETER SETTING OF 29.85 (CONFIRMED BY RECORDED TRANSCRIPT) FURNISHED. PLT DID NOT READ BACK. DURING APCH, ACFT IMPACTED TREES 25 FT AGL AT APRX 1320 FT MSL, 3 MILES SHORT OF ARPT. INVESTIGATION SHOWED PLT'S ALTIMETER SET AT 30.14 (ALTIMETER WOULD READ 290 FT HIGHER THAN ACFT ACTUAL ALTITUDE). PLT'S RECALL WAS THAT THE 30.14 SETTING WAS FURNISHED BY APCH CONTROL. PLT FURTHER STATED LAST RECALLED ALTITUDE READING WAS 1750 FT. APCH PLATE SHOWS 1700 FT MDA WITH ROGERS ALTIMETER SETTING; INCREASE MDA BY 100 FT IF USING FAYETTEVILLE SETTING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9229Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 690A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 11122
- Airframe hours: 2857
- Engines: GARRETT TPE3315251K 715 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Northwest Air Charter
- Registered owner: J And D Leasing
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, July 11, 1984, 87 hours before
- Departed: BTR, BATON ROUGE, LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ROG, Field Municipal-Carter, runway 19, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,900 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 60° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FYV, 25 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 19841220069339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841220069339A), Dec 20, 1984: Gulstm 690A, Pea Ridge, AR, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Did not set in altimeter setting, read 300 feet high. Low at minimum descent altitude, impacted trees.

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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