Narrative:
The crew elected to depart the Bellingham Airport under a special VFR clearance. Weather at the departure airport was 700 ft overcast with visibility 1 and 1/4 miles. The destination airport was within 25 nautical miles of the departure airport and was reporting a broken ceiling of 6 to 800 ft and 3 miles visibility. The crew was in the process of obtaining an IFR clearance when the pilot on the controls observed trees in the flight path. The aircraft collided with trees during a climbing right turn. The crew subsequently obtained an IFR clearance and returned to the departure airport uneventfully.
PROBABLE CAUSE:
flight into known adverse weather..attempted..pilot in command
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:
weather condition..low ceiling
weather condition..fog
lack of familiarity with geographic area..pilot in command
visual lookout..not possible
lack of familiarity with geographic area..copilot/second pilot
Normal landing
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Tuesday 4 October 1988 |
| Time: | 09:52 |
| Type: |  Beechcraft B99A Airliner |
| Operator: | San Juan Airlines |
| Registration: | N803BA |
| MSN: | U-133 |
| First flight: | 1969 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 27745 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | near Eastsound-Orcas Island Airport, WA (ESD) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Maneuvering (MNV) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Bellingham Airport, WA (BLI/KBLI), United States of America |
| Eastsound-Orcas Island Airport, WA (ESD/KORS), United States of America |
The crew elected to depart the Bellingham Airport under a special VFR clearance. Weather at the departure airport was 700 ft overcast with visibility 1 and 1/4 miles. The destination airport was within 25 nautical miles of the departure airport and was reporting a broken ceiling of 6 to 800 ft and 3 miles visibility. The crew was in the process of obtaining an IFR clearance when the pilot on the controls observed trees in the flight path. The aircraft collided with trees during a climbing right turn. The crew subsequently obtained an IFR clearance and returned to the departure airport uneventfully.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE:
flight into known adverse weather..attempted..pilot in command
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:
weather condition..low ceiling
weather condition..fog
lack of familiarity with geographic area..pilot in command
visual lookout..not possible
lack of familiarity with geographic area..copilot/second pilot
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Normal landing
Sources:
» NTSBFollow-up / safety actions
NTSB issued 1 Safety Recommendation
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Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Bellingham Airport, WA to Eastsound-Orcas Island Airport, WA as the crow flies is 29 km (18 miles).
Distance from Bellingham Airport, WA to Eastsound-Orcas Island Airport, WA as the crow flies is 29 km (18 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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