# NTSB WPR23LA087: Raytheon BE-200, N200EJ, Poplar, MT, January 18, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 18, 2023, 08:18 local (15:18 UTC)
- Place: Poplar, MT · PO1
- Coordinates: 48.134417, -105.16213
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1344&lon=-105.1621&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-IFR final approach: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106593
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA087
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106593/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106593
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA087

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and descent rate during the landing approach, which resulted in an impact with terrain short of the runway threshold.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Raytheon B200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7150006), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Raytheon B200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7150006), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Raytheon B200, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7150006), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-IFR final approach: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Raytheon B200, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7150006), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while on approach for landing, the airplane started to lose altitude quickly. After the co-pilot noticed the high decent rate and the slow airspeed, he advised the pilot to add power. However, the airplane continued to descend and impacted terrain in a right wing and nose low attitude, about 30 yards short of the runway approach threshold, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N200EJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N200EJ-2023-10-09), registration cancelled 2023-10-09, S/N BB-1884 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY BE-200
- Registry model: [Raytheon B200](https://openairdocs.org/model/raytheon-b200) (registry code 7150006) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BB-1884
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 4538.7
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42 850 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42 850 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 135
- Operator: Lynch Flying Service Inc DBA
- Registered owner: Lynch Flying Service Inc DBA
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, October 19, 2022
- Departed: KBIL, Billings, MT
- Destination: PO1, Poplar, MT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PO1, Poplar Muni, runway 9, 4,403 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 29, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,242 total, 2,068 in this make and model, 5,892 as pilot in command, 92 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days
- Co-pilot; age 62; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 11, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 10,301 total, 4,137 in this make and model, 9,753 as pilot in command, 84 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: KPO1
- METAR: 	
METAR KPO1 181500Z AUTO 11009KT 3SM BR OVC004 M03/M03 A2990

## 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 20230118000939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230118000939A), Jan 18, 2023: Raytheon Aircraft Company B200, Poplar, MT, Destroyed. [privacy data omitted] Was cleared by ATC for the approach into Poplar. Once established, the PIC said the aircraft was configured for landing and everything…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106593. 11.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15032796&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA087%20Poplar,%20MT%20N200EJ_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 494 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15112000&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA087%20Photo%20L4-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120 revised (item 3, PDF, 11 pages, 5.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15316156&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N200EJ%206120%20corrected_Redacted-Rel.pdf

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.