SEA88FA039

NTSB accident investigation · Beech B23 · Hamer, ID · January 22, 1988

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
January 22, 1988, 12:14 local (19:14 UTC)
Place
Hamer, ID
Injuries
3 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
CFWETBeech B23
Weather
Day
Status
Completed · report August 8, 1989
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
40715

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

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.

In flight encounter with weatherCruise
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - fogFactor
Preflight briefing service - disregardedPilot in commandFactor
Overconfidence in personal abilityPilot in commandFactor
Vfr flight into imc - continuedPilot in commandCause
Flight into known adverse weather - attemptedPilot in commandCause
Loss of control - in flightManeuvering
StallPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

The two non instrument rated pilots (owner/pilot in command and second pilot) as well as a passenger departed medicine hat, alberta, Canada, on a pleasure flight to las vegas, Nevada. Upon arrival at great falls, Montana, both pilots were briefed on the intended route of flight via pocatello, Idaho, and VFR flight was not recommended. The briefer suggested an alternate routing via Wyoming. The owner/pilot in command overrode the second pilot's acceptance of the alternate routing and the aircraft departed. Approaching pocatello one of the pilots radioed that weather conditions were 'closing in' on the flight and a witness in the vicinity of the crash site reported low ceilings/clouds, fog, light snow and reduced visibilities during the late morning/early afternoon of the accident. The aircraft impacted frozen ground in a steep nose low attitude without cracking. Breaking the engine crankcase after stalling at low alt.

Aircraft

Registration
CFWET
Reported as
Beech B23
Category
Airplane
Serial number
M1127
Airframe hours
1,920
Engine
Lycoming O-360-A2G, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Peter P. Miller
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · September 10, 1987 · 31 hours before
Departed
GTF · Great Falls, MT
Destination
PIH · Pocatello, ID
Flight plan
VFR

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
49
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
145 total · 52 in this make and model · 99 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Day
Wind
Calm