# NTSB SEA89LA085: Beech A24R, N8049R, Ely, NV, May 13, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 13, 1989, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Ely, NV
- Coordinates: 39.420047, -114.99916 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4200&lon=-114.9992&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41011
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA89LA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41011/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89LA085

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO CONTINUE FLIGHT INTO IMC. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE SNOW, OBSCURATION AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

## 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 - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

PLT PROCEEDED INTO DETERIORATING WX CONDS AND BECAME TRAPPED IN A VALLEY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE FOLLOWING ROAD TO A MOUNTAIN PASS, HE ENCOUNTERED SNOW AND LOST GROUND CONTACT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED A BLIND COURSE REVERSAL AND COLLIDED WITH TREES AND TERRAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8049R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8049R-1989-09-06), registration cancelled 1989-09-06, S/N MC44 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A24R
- Registry model: [Beech A24R](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a24r) (registry code 1151252) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: MC44
- Airframe hours: 1960
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: James F. Winfield
- Registered owner: James F Winfield
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: EKO, ELKO, NV
- Destination: BLD, BOULDER CITY, NV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 493 total, 235 in this make and model, 466 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 20 knots, gusting 40
- Lowest ceiling: 50 ft
- Temperature: 36 °F

## 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 19890513011419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890513011419A), May 13, 1989: Beech A24R, Ely, NV, Destroyed. Entered heavy snow. Impacted a mountainside trying to make a blind 180 to exit area. No weather briefing.

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.