# NTSB SEA87FA141: Beech B200, N1870S, Crystal Bay, NV, July 18, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 17, 1987, 19:30 local (Jul 18, 1987, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Crystal Bay, NV
- Coordinates: 39.22953, -119.999282 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2295&lon=-119.9993&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 19, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40526
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA87FA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40526/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA87FA141

## Analysis

WHILE ON AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT PLAN IN IMC, THE FLIGHT WAS CLEARED FOR AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH TO THE SOUTH LAKE TAHOE AIRPORT, THE INTENDED DESTINATION. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE INITIAL APPROACH FIX ON THE PUBLISHED TRANSITION TO THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AT 11,400 FEET. AFTERWARD, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED DESCENDING OUT OF CLOUDS AND MANUEVERING ERRATICALLY IN VMC UNTIL IT IMPACTED TERRAIN WITH NO APPARENT ATTEMPT TO RECOVER. MEDICAL RECORDSREVEALED PILOT HAD A HISTORY OF HYPERTENSION, HYPERLIPIDEMIA, AND RECENT LOSS OF 41 POUNDS ON A RIGID WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM. THE AUTOPSY REVEALED SEVERE ARTERIOSCLOROSIS. MEDICAL RECORDS INDICATED THE PILOT HAD BEEN TAKING DIAZIDE INTERMITTENTLY FOR SEVERAL YEARS. POST-ACCIDENT TOX RESULTS WERE NEGATIVE. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ACCIDENT, IN COMBINATION WITH THE PILOT'S SEVERE DIET, MEDICAL HISTORY, AND POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION RESULTS SUPPORT THE CONCLUSION THAT THE PILOT BECAME INCAPACITATED IN FLIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - incapacitation(other cardiovascular), pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1870S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1870S-2015-05-20), registration cancelled 2015-05-20, S/N BB-1106 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B200
- Registry model: [Beech B200](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b200) (registry code 1152922) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BB1106
- Airframe hours: 478
- Engines: P&W PT6A-42 850 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Richard P. Lieberman
- Registered owner: Skywater Lodge
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 14, 1987, 1 hours before
- Departed: HWD, HAYWARD, CA
- Destination: 3SW, S. LAKE TAHOE, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TVL, South Lake Tahoe, runway 18, 8,544 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,995 total, 381 in this make and model, 3,995 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,200 ft broken
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: 3SW, 20 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 19870717035199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870717035199A), Jul 17, 1987: Beech B200, Crystal Bay, NV, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Seen to exit clouds go out of control and crash in trees. Pilot had cardivascular disease. Possible incapacition.

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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