# NTSB SEA89FA154: Beech C90, N25ST, Gold Beach, OR, August 21, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 21, 1989, 12:50 local (19:50 UTC)
- Place: Gold Beach, OR
- Coordinates: 42.450717, -124.30072 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4507&lon=-124.3007&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 23, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40930
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA89FA154
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40930/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89FA154

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND AFTER EMERGING FROM A FOG BANK ON A SHORT FINAL WHICH RESULTED IN INADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND A STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN ATTEMPTING THE VFR APPROACH IN IMC CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - air/ground communications - not possible, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, approach
  - object - vehicle (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WITNESSES HEARD THE AIRPLANE CIRCLE TWICE BEFORE THE APPROACH. A FOG BANK HAD JUST ROLLED INTO THE AREA AND VISIBILITY WAS REDUCED TO APPRX 1 MILE WITH THE BASES AT 200 TO 300 FEET. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED EMERGING FROM THE FOG IN A STEEP LEFT TURN AND DESCENDING RAPIDLY; RIGHT OF CENTER LINE, ON A ONE MILE FINAL. THE LEFT BANK ANGLE INCREASED TO NEAR 90 DEGREES WHEN THE NOSE DIPPED DOWN AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A PARKED VEHICLE 150 FEET RIGHT OF CENTERLINE AND 50 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. UNICOM NOT MANNED. NO RADIO IN AMBULANCE ON GROUND. BASIC WEATHER DATA SHOWN FROM NORTH BEND, 60 MILES NORTH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N25ST](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25ST-1989-11-16), registration cancelled 1989-11-16, S/N LJ507 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C90
- Registry model: [Beech C90](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c90) (registry code 1152913) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LJ-507
- Airframe hours: 6663
- Engines: P&W PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Mercy Flight
- Registered owner: Mcglone, Ernie R
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 10, 1989
- Departed: MFR, MEDFORD, OR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 4S1, Gold Beach, runway 34, 3,200 × 75 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,082 total, 13 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: OTH, 60 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 19890821030789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890821030789A), Aug 21, 1989: Beech C90, Gold Beach, OR, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Lost control on penetrating low fog bank turning final. Crashed and burned.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.