# NTSB SEA88FA039: Beech B23, Hamer, ID, January 22, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 22, 1988, 12:14 local (19:14 UTC)
- Place: Hamer, ID
- Coordinates: 43.980976, -112.180046 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9810&lon=-112.1800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 8, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40715
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA88FA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40715/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA88FA039

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - stall, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B23
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: M1127
- Airframe hours: 1920
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 49; 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

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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