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| Date: | Wednesday 6 January 1999 |
| Time: | 18:45 LT |
| Type: |  Beechcraft 58P Baron |
| Owner/operator: | Eastern Oregon Fast Freight |
| Registration: | N700LF |
| MSN: | TJ-123 |
| Engine model: | Continental TSIO-520-L |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Yamhill, OR -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Executive |
| Departure airport: | La Grande, OR (KLGD) |
| Aurora, OR (KUAO) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
While the pilot was en route to his intended destination on a dark night, the weather lowered to less than visual flight rules (VFR) minimums. Approach control therefore cleared the pilot direct to the associated VOR for a VOR DME approach. Once at the VOR, the pilot said he could see the ground and was going to descend and make a visual approach. Approach control asked the pilot if he was asking for a contact approach or canceling his IFR clearance, and then explained to him that he could not be cleared for a visual approach unless he could see the airport. The pilot responded that he wanted to shoot a contact approach, and approach cleared him to do so. Soon thereafter the aircraft was seen maneuvering underneath a low ceiling, in hilly terrain, where ground fog was present. While maneuvering in the hilly terrain, the aircraft collided with a row of pine trees near the top of a hill, and continued on for about 1,000 feet before impacting a thick stand of hardwood trees.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from hilly terrain while maneuvering below a low ceiling. Factors include a dark night, a low ceiling, fog, and hilly terrain.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB SEA99FA027
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:23 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency, ] |
| 25-Nov-2017 13:14 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Cn, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 25-Nov-2017 16:11 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Departure airport, ] |
| 25-Nov-2017 17:39 | harro | Updated [Nature, Departure airport, ] |
| 08-Apr-2024 10:56 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Cn, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report, ] |
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