Beechcraft 200 N200BE

Summary

On 13 June 2004 at about 12:30 local time, a Beechcraft 200 registered N200BE, operated by Rader Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Rupert, West Virginia, 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

13 June 2004 at 12:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Rupert, West Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Greenbriar Valley Airport (LWB)

Coordinates

37.9786, -80.6928

Aircraft

Beechcraft 200

Registration

N200BE

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Rader Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Summersville → Lewsiburg

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC04FA139

2 people died.

The pilot-in-command's improper decision to continue VFR flight into IMC conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Factors were the FAA Principle Operations Inspector's inadequate surveillance of the operator, and a low ceiling.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

An IFR flight plan and slot reservation were filed for the planned flight over mountainous terrain. The flightcrew intended to reposition to an airport about 30 miles southeast of the departure airport, pick up passengers, and then complete a revenue flight to another airport. The airplane departed VFR, and the flightcrew never activated the flight plan. A debris path was located, consistent with straight and level flight, near the peak of a mountain at 3,475 feet msl. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed near the accident site, about the time of the accident. Further investigation revealed the aircraft operator was involved in two prior weather related accidents, both of which resulted in fatalities. A third accident went unreported, and the weather at the time of that accident was unknown. Over a period of 14 years, the same FAA principal operations inspector was assigned to the operator during all four accidents; however, no actions were ever initiated as a result of any of the accidents.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.