Narrative:
A Beechcraft 200 Super King Air, N200BE, was destroyed when it impacted Big Mountain, near Rupert, WV. The certificated airline transport pilot and certificated commercial pilot were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed near the accident site, for the flight that departed Summersville Airport, WV, about 08:15; destined for Lewisburg-Greenbrier Valley Airport, WV (LWB).
An IFR flight plan and slot reservation were filed for the planned flight over mountainous terrain. The flight crew 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 flight crew 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.
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.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "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."
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Sunday 13 June 2004 |
| Time: | 08:30 |
| Type: |  Beechcraft 200 Super King Air |
| Operator: | Rader Aviation |
| Registration: | N200BE |
| MSN: | BB-832 |
| First flight: | 1981 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 9449 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-41 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Rupert, WV ( United States of America)
|
| Crash site elevation: | 1059 m (3474 feet) amsl |
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | Summersville Airport, WV (KSXL), United States of America |
| Lewisburg-Greenbrier Valley Airport, WV (LWB/KLWB), United States of America |
A Beechcraft 200 Super King Air, N200BE, was destroyed when it impacted Big Mountain, near Rupert, WV. The certificated airline transport pilot and certificated commercial pilot were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed near the accident site, for the flight that departed Summersville Airport, WV, about 08:15; destined for Lewisburg-Greenbrier Valley Airport, WV (LWB).
An IFR flight plan and slot reservation were filed for the planned flight over mountainous terrain. The flight crew 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 flight crew 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.
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.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "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."
Accident investigation:
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Sources:
» NTSBPhotos
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 Summersville Airport, WV to Lewisburg-Greenbrier Valley Airport, WV as the crow flies is 58 km (36 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Summersville Airport, WV to Lewisburg-Greenbrier Valley Airport, WV as the crow flies is 58 km (36 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
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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