# NTSB NYC72AN053: Swearingen SA26AT, N20DE, Hot Springs, VA, October 16, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 16, 1971
- Place: Hot Springs, VA · HOT SPRINGS, VA
- Location: 38.0013° N, 79.8239° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hot Springs, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0013&lon=-79.8239&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 8, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 163461
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC72AN053
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72AN053

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2650  71/10/16   HOT SPRINGS,VA      SWEARINGEN SA26AT   CR-  2  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1317                    N20DE               PX-  4  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            AGE 49, 25000 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - INGALLS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DETROIT,MICH                HOT SPRINGS,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - SELF-HELP,PILOT CHECKED WEATHER DATA
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN/LOWER SCATTERED                                    400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          GROUND FOG                                               BELOW MINIMUMS
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- DESCENDED BLO MDA ON 3RD ATTEMPT AT NO G/S ILS APCH. HIT 150 FT SHORT AND TO R OF RWY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N20DE (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA26AT
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ingalls

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.
