Beechcraft 58-TC N117HS

Summary

On 18 July 2001 at about 12:35 local time, a Beechcraft 58-TC registered N117HS was involved in an accident near Sidney, New York, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 July 2001 at 12:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Sidney, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Sydney Airport (N23)

Coordinates

42.3110, -75.3900

Aircraft

Beechcraft 58-TC

Registration

N117HS

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Executive/Corporate

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Buffalo → Sidney

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC01FA178

3 people died.

The pilot's failure to follow IFR procedures which resulted in a collision with rising terrain. Factors related to the accident were the rising terrain and fog.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had conducted two VOR approaches to the airport, each to a missed approach. After the second missed approach, the controller queried the pilot if the missed approach was due to fog. The pilot advised the controller that "…there's pockets in and out but I can't get the runway in sight..." The pilot then requested, and was cleared, for a third approach. The controller requested the pilot to contact the advisory frequency at the airport, which the pilot complied. No further radio transmissions were received from the airplane. The airplane came to rest in a wooded area about 2 miles northwest of the airport, at an elevation of 1,679 feet msl. The wreckage path was orientated on a 245-degree bearing. The missed approach point for the VOR approach was located at the runway threshold. The missed approach procedure required the pilot to initiate a climbing right turn to 3,400 feet, then proceed back to the northeast, to an intersection located about 5.2 miles northeast of the airport, and hold. An FAA inspector flew the runway 25 VOR approach the day of the accident. No abnormalities with the navigation or airport facilities were noted. Review of the Airport Facility Directory revealed an airport remark for N23 that stated, "Numerous hills surround arpt up to 800 ft above arpt elevation." Witnesses described the weather about the time of the accident as "heavy fog" with the mountains surrounding the airport completely obscured.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.