# NTSB MKC88FA176: Beech C23, N6022C, Belle Plaines, IA, September 22, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 22, 1988, 18:08 local (23:08 UTC)
- Place: Belle Plaines, IA
- Coordinates: 41.889091, -92.270606 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8891&lon=-92.2706&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34506
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC88FA176
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34506/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC88FA176

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - in-flight weather advisories - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - roadway/highway

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT RECEIVED A FULL WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE DURING WHICH HE WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. IN ADDITION HE WAS ADVISED THAT, WHILE CONDITIONS WERE FORECAST TO IMPROVE, THE POSSIBILITY FOR SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO EXIST. WHILE IN FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS ADVISED TWICE THAT WEATHER CELLS WERE IN HIS FLIGHT PATH AND WAS OFFERED RADAR VECTORS AROUND THEM. HE CHOSE NOT TO BE VECTORED UNTIL AFTER HE HAD ENTERED AN AREA OF HEAVY RAIN. AFTER TURNING 80 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AND THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO A GRAVEL ROAD IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6022C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6022C-1990-03-06), registration cancelled 1990-03-06, S/N M2160 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C23
- Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: M-2160
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2G 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Lindquist, Cylde A
- Registered owner: Emer. Services & Management
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 1988
- Departed: IOW, IOWA CITY, IA
- Destination: FOD, FORT DODGE, IA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 223 total, 150 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk
- Wind: 330° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CID, 46 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 19880922039579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880922039579A), Sep 22, 1988: Beech C23, Belle Plaines, IA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. VFR pilot proceeded into area of thunderstorm,low ceiling and heavy rain. Lost control. Ignored ATC weather warning

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
