- Date
- October 19, 1992, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Leicester, MA
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N1ZBBeech 55
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19921019042459A
- Case key
- 37235
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot to maintain the proper glide path. Factors related to the accident were the pilot's lack of recent flight experience and his lack of recent instrument experienced.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was conducting an ILS approach to runway 11, at night. The reported visibility was 8 miles with light rain. He dropped below the glide path and struck an approach light tower about 1/4 mile from the runway threshold. The pilot had not flown at night in about 90 days. Also, he had only flown about 4 times in this period. Examination revealed no discrepancies with the engines, and the ILS was flight tested satisfactorily. A witness observed the airplane 'on a gradual decline...hit the pole.'
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1ZB
- Reported as
- Beech 55
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- TC-1943
- Engine
- Continental IO-470-L, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert L. Powell, doing business as Powell Aircraft Leasing Inc.
- Registered owner
- Powell Aircraft Leasing Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 1992
- Departed
- GAI · Gaithersburg, MD
- Destination
- ORH · Worcester, MA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- ORH · Worcester Municipal, runway 11, 6,999 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 64
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 3,800 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 6 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,900 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ORH, 1 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.