Beechcraft 95 N393B

Summary

On 11 September 1991 at about 15:30 local time, a Beechcraft 95 registered N393B, operated by James H. Morten, was involved in an accident near Killdeer, North Dakota, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 September 1991 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Killdeer, North Dakota, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Beechcraft 95

Registration

N393B

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

James H. Morten

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Beulah → Malta

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI91FA291

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S DISREGARDING THE WEATHER FORECAST; HIS IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO CONTINUE A VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS; AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM TERRAIN. THE MOUNTAINOUS HILLY TERRAIN AND LOW CEILING WERE FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A PILOT WITH OVER 17,000 HOURS FLIGHT TIME RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEF WHICH REPORTED LOW CEILINGS ALONG HIS PLANNED ROUTE OF FLIGHT, AND VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. HE ELECTED TO GO VFR AND DID NOT FILE A FLIGHT PLAN. LOW CEILINGS WERE RIGHT WHERE THE WEATHER BRIEFER SAID THEY WERE REPORTED TO BE, AND THEY WERE OBSCURING THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN. THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN ABOUT 100 FEET BELOW THE CREST.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.