Beech E-90 accident near Beaufort, SC
On December 20, 1999, a Beech E-90 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Beaufort, SC. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 20, 1999
- Place
- Beaufort, SC
- Aircraft
- Beech E-90 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 32.331°N, 80.680°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X20278
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 19, 1999, at about 2035 eastern daylight time, a Beech E-90, N75CF, registered to the University of South Carolina Athletic Department, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight, crashed during an area surveillance radar approach to runway 24 Beaufort County Airport, (73J) Beaufort, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed by a postcrash fire. The airline transport-rated pilot-in-command (PIC) was fatally injured, and the copilot (CP) sustained serious injuries. The flight originated from Hilton Head, South Carolina, about 13 minutes before the accident. The CP stated they departed HXD at about 2022, and activated their IFR flight plan. The PIC was flying the airplane. They climbed to their assigned altitude, and were given a frequency change to Marine Beaufort approach control. They completed the descent and landing checklist; all flight operations were normal. The flaps were extended to the approach position, the landing gear was lowered, and the propeller was set at 1,900 rpm. The airspeed was about 140, decreased to 130, and then down to 120 knots. They were cleared for the approach on about a six-mile final. The PIC was on the instruments and the CP stated he was outside, and checking the radios. They broke out of the clouds at about 900 feet, and were descending at about 480 feet-per-minute. The ceiling was overcast, ragged, and very dark with no visible horizon. The CP stated he could see some lights, but could not see the airport. He looked back inside
Probable cause
The pilot-in-commands failure to maintain the appropriate altitude (minimum descent altitude) during an area surveillance radar (ASR) approach, resulting in an in-flight collision with swampy terrain. Contributing to the accident was the co-pilot's failure to maintain a visual lookout during the ASR approach.
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Browse: South Carolina · Beech aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
