# NTSB NYC87FA138: Beech 95-B55, N973E, Lanesville, NY, February 8, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 8, 1987, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Lanesville, NY
- Location: 42.1279° N, 74.2629° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lanesville, NY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1279&lon=-74.2629&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30497
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87FA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30497/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87FA138

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PLT AND HIS FAMILY DPTD 2/8/87 ON A SKI TRIP TO VT. THE FLT DID NOT ARRIVE. THE ACFT WAS FND ON A MTN PLATEAU ON 5/2/87. WX CONDITIONS RPTDLY DETERIORATED AND DARKNESS WAS APCHING AT THE ESTIMATED TIME OF THE ACDT, SHORTLY AFTER SUNSET. THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE AND IN CRUISE CONFIGURATION. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N973E (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 95-B55
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC-1278
- Airframe hours: 3808
- Engines: CONTINENTAL I0-470-L 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Joseph Parker
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 1986, 134 hours before
- Departed: W98, RICHMOND, VA
- Destination: MVL, MORRISVILLE, VT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 12,192 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Dusk
- Wind: 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: POU, 38 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 19870208017529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870208017529A), Feb 8, 1987: Beech 95B55, Lanesville, NY, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Flew into the side of a mountain with tops reported obscured in snow showers,fog,and darkness with no ground lights

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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