Moore-Murrell Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Morristown, Tennessee 37816
Monday, February 17, 2003 19:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, as the flight descended from 8100 feet the airplane began to pick up structural ice. The flight was cleared to descend to 5100 feet, and the airplane continued to collect structural ice. As the airplane continued to descended the pilot added power to maintain altitude. While on final approach to runway 05 the airplane was unable to maintain altitude and collided with terrain. No mechanical or flight control malfunctions were reported by the pilot prior to the accident. According to the Saint Petersburg Flight Service Station, the pilot was given a full weather briefing that reported icing conditions at the destination airport.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/decision to initiate flight into known adverse weather conditions, resulting in the in-flight encounter with weather and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain. A factor was airplane performance deteriorated due to structural ice.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/17/2003
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1945
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Morristown
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37816
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 361045N
Event Location Longitude 0832231W
Event Location Airport MOORE-MURRELL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MOR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 5
Degrees magnetic from airport 230
Airport Elevation 1313
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID PIE
Elevation of weather observation facility 11
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height 2100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
Density Altitude (feet) -112
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19803
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communication Center
NTSB Notification Date Feb 17 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 28 2006 1:30PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Nashville FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N100DA
NTSB Number ATL03LA046
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model A36
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number E-1670
Certified Max Gross Weight 2540
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 2 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 130
Airframe Hours 3268
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Victor J. Osborne
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2250 Le Conte Street
Aircraft Owner City Morristown
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37814
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CLW
Departure City CLEARWATER
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MOR
Destination City MORRISTOWN
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency descent/landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 3 2003 1:30PM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 05
Runway Length 5701
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --