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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

August 18, 1993 · Beech A23 · N3552R

Morgantown, WV

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 18, 1993
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Morgantown, WV
Aircraft
Beech A23
Tail Number
N3552R
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC93LA161

THE PILOT WAS EXECUTING THE ILS RWY 18 APPROACH AND STRUCK TREES 3 MILES FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY AT APPROXIMATELY AIRPORT ELEVATION HEIGHT. WHEN INTERVIEWED, HE SAID THAT DUE TO THE FOG HE WAS LOOKING OUTSIDE FOR THE AIRPORT AND WHEN HE LOOKED BACK INSIDE HE REALIZED HE WAS LOW. HE SAID THAT WHEN HE ADDED POWER, THE AIRPLANE WAS ALREADY IN THE TREES.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to follow IFR procedures in which he descended below the decision height without visual detection of the runway. Factors are the fog conditions, trees and the pilot's inattention to altitude.

Full Narrative

On Wednesday, August 18, 1993, at 0557 eastern daylight time, a Beech A23, N3552R, owned and operated by Benjamin F. Roush, of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, struck rising terrain while executing an ILS approach to Morgantown, West Virginia, airport for a landing. The pilot received serious injuries and the airplane received substantial damage. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and the pilot was operating on an instrument flight rules flight plan in accordance with 14 CFR 91. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated that while on final approach: ...looked at the approach plate to redetermine DH [Decision Height] 1440' [feet] and the next few seconds I heard slap, slap, --- smack, smack, and I was on the ground. Everything seemed to be functioning properly.... According to the map supplied by the FAA, the airplane flew into rising terrain, at an altitude of 1200 feet, 3 miles from the approach end of runway 18. The published airport elevation is 1248 feet. The minimum descent altitude on the ILS approach is 1440 feet. The glide slope at Morgantown is set at 3 degrees. In a telephone interview, Mr. Kenneth Leighton, of the Charleston, West Virginia, Flight Standards District Office said he traveled to the accident site. He said the onsite evidence indicated the engine was developing power while the airplane traveled through the trees. In addition, he said when he interviewed the pilot in the hospital, the pilot said he was looking outside the airplane for the airport and when he looked inside, he realized he was too low and added power, however, he was too late and was already in the trees. Although there is no record of the pilot checking weather prior to departure, according to the FAA Supplied transcript, he did receive, and acknowledged, the current Morgantown weather of an indefinite ceiling of 200 feet, sky obscured, visibility 2 miles with fog.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time05:57 EDT
Nearest AirportMorgantown Muni (3nm N)
Runway36
Runway Length5199 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech A23
Tail NumberN3552R
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-346-A · Reciprocating · 165
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 57 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDawn
WindCalm
Visibility2 sm
Ceiling200 ft
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 68 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time09:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data