Athens/Ben Epps Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Athens, Georgia 30605
Friday, November 21, 1997 13:22 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After completing an ILS approach to runway 27, the aircraft touched down at approximately the 1500 foot remaining point of the 5522 foot runway. The airplane continued off the departure end of runway 27 and skidded down an embankment, collapsing the nose gear in soft terrain. According to air traffic controllers, the pilot continued the approach after being issued the weather. The weather was 200 feet overcast and 1/4 mile visibility. Landing minimums for the approach were 200 feet and 3/4 mile visibility.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision by attempting to land in weather that was below minimums, and his failure to attain a suitable touchdown point on the runway. Weather below landing minimums was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/21/1997
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1322
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ATHENS
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30605
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ATHENS/BEN EPPS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AHN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 270
Airport Elevation 808
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID AHN
Elevation of weather observation facility 803
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0.25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 400
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 939
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 21 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1430
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:40PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N202RS
NTSB Number ATL98LA011
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model 60
Aircraft Series Identifier 60
Aircraft Serial Number P-380
Certified Max Gross Weight 6775
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 16 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 122
Airframe Hours 3601
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LOOKOUT LEASING COMPANY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 410 SPRING ST
Aircraft Owner City CHATTANOOGA
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37405
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT A. MORRISON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 402 N PALISADES
Operator City SIGNAL MTN
Operator State TN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 37377
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SUA
Departure City WITHAM FIELD
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code AHN
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 5522
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --