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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

October 8, 1990 · Beech V35B · N409E

Ottawa, OH

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 8, 1990
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Location
Ottawa, OH
Aircraft
Beech V35B
Tail Number
N409E
Operator
Nelson Manufacturing
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC91FA005

During an IFR arrival at night, the pilot was cleared for the VOR Runway 27 approach to the Putnam County Airport. The published minimum descent altitude (MDA) for the approach was 1200 feet MSL or 437 feet AGL. Witnesses described the weather as 'foggy' with drizzle and 1 mile visibility. During the approach, the airplane struck trees that were about 60 ft tall and 1 1/2 miles east-southeast of the airport. An exam revealed that initial impact occurred with treetops on a heading of 315 deg in a wings attitude. No preimpact part failure was found. A mark on the airspeed gage indicated it was at the 140 kt position during impact. Both propeller blades had chordwise scratch marks and 'S' bending at the tips. The surrounding terrain at the airport was flat and sparsely populated. The aircraft was based at the airport, and the pilot had flown in the local area for several years. No records were found to determine the pilot's instrument flight or night flight proficiency.

NTSB Probable Cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW THE PROPER INSTRUMENT PROCEDURE AND MAINTAIN THE MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE (MDA) DURING AN APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT AT NIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.

Full Narrative

DURING AN IFR ARRIVAL AT NIGHT, THE PILOT WAS CLEARED FOR THE VOR RUNWAY 27 APPROACH TO THE PUTNAM COUNTY AIRPORT. THE PUBLISHED MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE (MDA) FOR THE APPROACH WAS 1200 FEET MSL OR 437 FEET AGL. WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE WEATHER AS 'FOGGY' WITH DRIZZLE AND 1 MILE VISIBILITY. DURING THE APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES THAT WERE ABOUT 60 FT TALL AND 1 1/2 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT INITIAL IMPACT OCCURRED WITH TREETOPS ON A HEADING OF 315 DEG IN A WINGS ATTITUDE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE WAS FOUND. A MARK ON THE AIRSPEED GAGE INDICATED IT WAS AT THE 140 KT POSITION DURING IMPACT. BOTH PROPELLER BLADES HAD CHORWISE SCRATCH MARKS AND 'S' BENDING AT THE TIPS. THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN AT THE AIRPORT WAS FLAT AND SPARSLEY POPULATED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BASED AT THE AIRPORT, AND THE PILOT HAD FLOWN IN THE LOCAL AREA FOR SEVERAL YEARS. NO RECORDS WERE FOUND TO DETERMINE THE PILOT'S INSTRUMENT FLIGHT OR NIGHT FLIGHT PROFICIENCY.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time22:10 EDT
Nearest AirportPutnam County (2nm ESE)
Runway27
Runway Length4426 ft
Runway Width65 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech V35B
Tail NumberN409E
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorNelson Manufacturing
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-BA · Reciprocating · 285
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Fatal4
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 48 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
WindCalm
Visibility1 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 59
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time02:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data