Beechcraft A36 N1607W

Summary

On 14 November 1989 at about 19:25 local time, a Beechcraft A36 registered N1607W was involved in an accident near Shell Lake, Wisconsin, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 November 1989 at 19:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Shell Lake, Wisconsin, United States

Nearest airport

Shell Lake Muni (SSQ)

Coordinates

45.7290, -91.8903

Aircraft

Beechcraft A36

Registration

N1607W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Minneapolis → Shell Lake

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI90FA028

3 people died.

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO PERFORM A MISSED APPROACH, HIS DESCENDING BELOW THE MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE TO AVOID IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S LACK OF TOTAL INSTRUMENT TIME, HIS LACK OF RECENT TOTAL EXPERIENCE, AND HIS LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

AN NDB APPROACH WAS ATTEMPTED TO AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT DURING MODERATE SNOW CONDITIONS. VISIBILITY WAS REPORTED RESTRICTED IN SNOW SHOWERS BY AREA RESIDENTS AT THE TIME OF THE APPROACH. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO A LAKE ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT AND WAS DESTROYED. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING WHICH INCLUDED THE POSSIBILITY OF SNOW SHOWERS. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM A MISSED APPROACH. WITNESS REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD DESCENDED BELOW THE MINIMUM DESCENT ALTITUDE PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE PILOT HAD LIMITED TOTAL INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE, A LACK OF RECENT TOTAL EXPEREINCE AND A LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF OPERATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.