# NTSB NYC89FA097: Beech 95-A55, N1729Q, Lake Placid, NY, March 1, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 1, 1989, 12:56 local (17:56 UTC)
- Place: Lake Placid, NY
- Coordinates: 44.28059, -73.980102 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2806&lon=-73.9801&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36276
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89FA097
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36276/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89FA097

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DEPARTURE INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND HIS CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - downwind
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

PILOT DEPARTED SARANAC LAKE IN INTERMITTENT SNOW SQUALLS AND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER THE PILOT CONTACTED LAKE PLACID UNICOM AND SAID HE WOULD BE LANDING IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES. 2 MINUTES LATER THE UNICOM OPERATOR HEARD THE AIRCRAFT FLY OVERHEAD AT A LOW ALTITUDE, AND THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO BE FLYING DOWNWIND FOR RWY 32. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND AT THE BASE OF A HILL 3/4 MI SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT, JUST OFF THE APPROACH END OF RWY 32. THE AIRPORT WAS OBSCURED IN SNOW WITH VISIBILITY AROUND 1/3 TO 1/2 MI, BUT THE NORTH END OF THE FIELD WAS CLEAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1729Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1729Q-1991-11-05), registration cancelled 1991-11-05, S/N TC304 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 95-A55
- Registry model: [Beech 95-A55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-a55) (registry code 1152704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC 304
- Airframe hours: 2383
- Engines: Teledyne Cont IO-470 L 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Paul Edward Field
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 28, 1988, 30 hours before
- Departed: SLK, SARANAC LAKE, NY
- Airport: LKP, Lake Placid, runway 32, 4,200 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,840 total, 356 in this make and model, 1,679 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft
- Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SLK, 10 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 19890301004399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890301004399A), Mar 1, 1989: Beech 95A55, Lake Placid, NY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Snow squalls in area. Reported saw ground but crashed into trees on final with low visibility and snow at airport.

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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