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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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May 26, 1987 · Socata TB10 · N20FU

Battle Mountain, NV

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 26, 1987
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
Battle Mountain, NV
Aircraft
Socata TB10
Tail Number
N20FU
Operator
James a Banister
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA87FA102

AFTER RECEIVING A WEATHER BRIEFING CALLING FOR MOUNTAINS OCCASIONALLY OBSCURED, OCCASIONAL MODERATE ICING FROM 18000 FT & BELOW, AND CEILINGS ACROSS NORTH & CENTRAL NEVADA, THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PILOT FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAN AND DEPARTED SALT LAKE CITY FOR RENO. EN ROUTE PILOT ENTERED IMC MOUNTAINOUS AREA & ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB TO 12000 FT, MINIMUM SAFE IFR ALTITUDE, AFTER COORDINATION WITH CENTER. DURING CLIMB AND WHILE IN IMC LOSS OF CONTROL OCCURRED. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED MOUNTAIN LEDGE IN NOSE LOW INVERTED ATTITUDE AT HIGH SPEED. PILOT HAD NEW AUTOPILOT AND LORAN INSTALLED DAY BEFORE DEPARTING ON ACCIDENT TRIP. DURING STOPOVER AT BATTLE MOUNTAIN FBO TRIED TO CONVINCE PILOT TO DELAY DUE TO POOR WEATHER.

Full Narrative

AFTER RECEIVING A WEATHER BRIEFING CALLING FOR MOUNTAINS OCCASIONALLY OBSCURED, OCCASIONAL MODERATE ICING FROM 18000 FT & BELOW, AND CEILINGS ACROSS NORTH & CENTRAL NEVADA, THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PILOT FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAN AND DEPARTED SALT LAKE CITY FOR RENO. EN ROUTE PILOT ENTERED IMC MOUNTAINOUS AREA & ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB TO 12000 FT, MINIMUM SAFE IFR ALTITUDE, AFTER COORDINATION WITH CENTER. DURING CLIMB AND WHILE IN IMC LOSS OF CONTROL OCCURRED. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED MOUNTAIN LEDGE IN NOSE LOW INVERTED ATTITUDE AT HIGH SPEED. PILOT HAD NEW AUTOPILOT AND LORAN INSTALLED DAY BEFORE DEPARTING ON ACCIDENT TRIP. DURING STOPOVER AT BATTLE MOUNTAIN FBO TRIED TO CONVINCE PILOT TO DELAY DUE TO POOR WEATHER.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:47 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSocata TB10
Tail NumberN20FU
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorJames a Banister
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A1AD · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 49 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingOvercast 350 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

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Appendix: Source Data