Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rome, Georgia 30161
Wednesday, December 11, 1991 9:41 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

BEFORE TAKEOFF, AN IFR FLT PLAN WAS FILED FOR A 15 MIN FLT FROM ROME, GA, TO HUNTSVILLE, AL. TAKEOFF WAS COMMENCED AT 0937 EST WITH THE COPLT FLYING THE ACFT. AFTER A VFR TAKEOFF, THE CAPT CONTACTED ATLANTA CENTER TO OBTAIN AN IFR CLNC. THE CONTROLLER ADVISED THAT OTHER TRAFFIC WAS IN THE AREA & INSTRUCTED THE FLT TO REMAIN VFR (WHILE AN IFR CLNC WAS BEING ARRANGED). AT THAT TIME, THE FLT RPRTD AT 1300' IN VFR CONDS. WHILE WAITING FOR AN IFR CLNC, THE CREW BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT HIGHER TERRAIN & LOW CEILINGS. AT ABOUT 0940, THE CAPT DIRECTED THE COPLT TO FLY 'BACK TO THE RIGHT.' APRX 1 MIN LATER, THE CVR STOPPED RECORDING & RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST WITH THE ACFT. LATER, THE ACFT WAS FOUND WHERE IT HAD COLLIDED WITH THE TOP OF MT LAVENDAR. ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS APRX 1580' MSL. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A GROUND PROXIMITY WARNING SYS. (FOR DETAILS SEE: SUMMARY REPORT)

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE CAPTAIN'S DECISION TO INITIATE VISUAL FLIGHT INTO AN AREA OF KNOWN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND LOW CEILINGS AND THE FAILURE OF THE FLIGHTCREW TO MAINTAIN AWARENESS OF THEIR PROXIMITY TO THE TERRAIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/11/1991
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 941
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ROME
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30161
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RMG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 7
Degrees magnetic from airport 252
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 0 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 252
Weather Observation Facility ID RMG
Elevation of weather observation facility 644
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
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
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 9
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 9
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1953
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 11 1991 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45215
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:53AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N25BR
NTSB Number DCA92MA011
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model 400
Aircraft Series Identifier 400
Aircraft Serial Number RJ-57
Certified Max Gross Weight 15780
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 9
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Oct 17 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 17
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name B.R. AIR INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 800 LAKESHORE PARKWAY
Aircraft Owner City BRIMINGHAM
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35211
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BRUNO'S INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 800 LAKESHORE PKWY
Operator City BIRMINGHAM
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 35211
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) Executive/Corporate
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code RMG
Departure City ROME
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HSV
Destination City HUNTSVILLE
Destination State AL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --