NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On March 18, 2006, approximately 1455 mountain standard time, a Beech C99, N54RP, registered to and operated by Ameriflight Inc., as a 14 CFR Part 135 cargo flight, collided with trees and subsequently the terrain located approximately seven nautical miles southwest of the Bert Mooney Airport (BTM), Butte, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the airport, however instrument meteorological conditions were reported in the area of the accident site. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged by impact damage and a post-crash fire. The airline transport pilot-in-command and a newly hired commercial pilot were fatally injured. The flight departed from Helena, Montana, approximately 20 minutes prior to the accident.

The aircraft was cleared for the VOR B approach to Butte at 1448. When the flight did not arrive at the airport a search was initiated. The wreckage was located in mountainous terrain by search and rescue personnel on March 20, about 0800, after a weak emergency locator transmitter signal was heard by other aircraft.

At the time of the accident, a National Weather Service (NWS) volunteer weather spotter located about one and-a-half miles southeast from the accident site reported that a weather front had been approaching the area from the south to the north/northeast. At the time of the accident, and at their residence, the conditions included icing conditions followed by heavy snow fall with poor visibility and variable winds in the mountains surrounding the accident site.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot sitting in the right seat was acting as pilot-in-command (PIC)/captain. At the time of the accident, the captain held commercial, airline transport pilot, certificated flight instructor in airplane single and multi-engine land aircraft, certificated instrument flight instructor and instrument and advanced ground instructor certificates. The captain held a second class medical certificate dated January 16, 2006, with a limitation that he must wear corrective lenses.

Ameriflight company records indicated that the captain was hired by Ameriflight in January 2001. The most recent 14 CFR Part 135 PIC Check flight in the Beech 99 (BE-99) was on April 24, 2005. The captain was also one of the company's training and check captains in the BE-99.

At the time of the accident the captain had accumulated a total flight time of 5,219 hours in all aircraft, with 5,109 hours as PIC. Approximately 2,616 hours had been accumulated in the BE-99, with 2,506 hours as PIC. Approximately 250 hours had been logged as giving flight instruction in the BE-99. Approximately 163 hours had been accumulated in the preceding 90 days in the BE-99. The captain's home base was located in Helena, Montana.

The second pilot seated in the left seat had been hired by Ameriflight in February 2006. At the time of the accident, this pilot held commercial and flight instructor certificates and was rated for instrument flight and flight in airplane single engine land and multi-engine land aircraft. Under the flight instructor certificate, he was rated to give instruction in single-engine land aircraft and for instrument flight. The pilot held a first class medical certificate dated February 16, 2006, with a limitation that corrective lenses must be worn.

At the time of the accident the second pilot had accumulated a total flight time in all aircraft of 2,023 hours, with 1,130 hours as PIC. A total flight time of 17 hours had been accumulated in the BE-99, with no time listed as PIC. Approximately 45 hours had been accumulated in all types of aircraft in the preceding 90 days with 17 hours in the BE-99.

Company personnel records indicated that the second pilot had completed training for employment as Captain in the BE-99, and was scheduled to take his check ride the day following the accident. The pilot was hired in February 2006, and classroom training began in March 2006, in Burbank, California. The Line Training Qualification Check was accomplished on March 4, 2006. Company training lesson plans consisted of ground school classroom time, simulator time and flight time in the aircraft. Flight training and observation flights of the routing in Montana began on March 14, 2006. Flight scheduling records indicated that the pilot had been on board aircraft flying from his main base of operations in Helena, Montana, to Billings, Montana, and Great Falls, Montana. The last flight before the accident was on March 16, 2006. Each of the training and observation flights were with an instructor on-board who was acting as the Captain/PIC. This was the pilot's first flight with the company into the Bert Mooney Airport, Butte, Montana.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

At the time of the accident, the aircraft, a Beech C99, had accumulated a total airframe time (TAT) of approximately 22,169.5 hours and 35,539 cycles. Ameriflight maintenance personnel maintained the aircraft under an Approved Aircraft Inspection Program (AAIP). Ameriflight's computer generated aircraft maintenance status report dated March 16, 2006, indicated that an AAIP #3 Event was accomplished on December 6, 2005 at 22,065 hours TAT, and an AAIP routine inspection was accomplished on February 15, 2006, at 22,134 hours TAT. An avionics check A was accomplished on January 19, 2006.

The aircraft was equipped with two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-36 engines. Maintenance records indicated that the left engine gas generator had accumulated a total time since overhaul (TSO) of 11,864 hours and 16,660 cycles since overhaul (CSO). The power section had accumulated 7,235 hours TSO and 9,866 CSO.

The right engine gas generator had accumulated 5,042 hours TSO and 6,877 CSO. The power section had accumulated 5,042 hours TSO and 6,877 hours CSO.

Review of maintenance records indicated that there were no open pilot squawks on the aircraft during the 5 days prior to the accident. One maintenance write-up (apparently during an inspection) reported that the right ice light was inoperative and it was replaced. No maintenance items were deferred on the minimum equipment list (MEL) or Continued Items program.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

At 1400, the weather reporting facility for BTM was reporting winds from 360 degrees at 6 knots, Visibility was 3 statute miles with light snow and mist. Few clouds were reported at 1,300 feet, broken clouds at 1,800 feet and overcast at 2,800 feet. The temperature and dew point were 01 degrees C. The altimeter was 29.73" Hg.

At 1427, the wind was from 100 degrees at 5 knots. Visibility was 10 statute miles. Broken clouds were reported at 3,000 feet and 4,300 feet, with overcast at 5,000 feet. The temperature and dew point were 02 degrees C. The altimeter setting was 29.72" Hg.

At 1453, the wind was from 360 degrees at 8 knots. Visibility was 10 statute miles. The clouds were broken at 6,000 feet. Temperature and dew point were 02 degrees C. The altimeter setting was 29.72" Hg.

AIRMETs were in effect for Montana reporting instrument flight rule conditions; turbulence; icing, and mountain obscuration.

Two National Weather Service weather spotters located about 1.5 miles southeast of the accident site and about 500 feet lower in elevation reported that on the day of the accident, the morning was clear. Clouds came in about noon and the temperature was about 35 degrees F. The afternoon storm moved into the area from the southwest to west and was moving in a northward to northeast direction. The wind was not over 20 miles per hour. The precipitation started at 1400 as light rain followed by snow. About 1630, wet snow had begun to accumulate. The spotters reported that the storm was typical for the time of year, and they felt there was no need to call the weather service.

AIDS TO NAVIGATION

The flight was cleared for the VOR or GPS-B approach via the 7 DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) arc. The transition to the approach is via a DME arc at 9,000 feet with no procedure turn. The flight is to track inbound on the 127 degree radial, descending down to, but no lower than 7,700 feet to Coppertown VOR (CPN), the Initial Approach Fix (IAF). After crossing CPN, the flight is to turn to 097 degrees for 10 nautical miles and descend to 6,900 feet. The remainder of the 1.5 nautical miles to the runway is to be flown under visual conditions.

At the time of the accident, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel reported that all navigation aids for the Bert Mooney Field were operational.

On March 23, 2006, a special after accident flight inspection was conducted by FAA personnel to test the VOR or GPS-B approach. The test was flown at 1000 MST. The wind was calm, the visibility was 10 statute miles. The sky was clear and the altimeter was 30.02" Hg. The flight test evaluated the procedure turn radial from 10 nautical miles to the facility and the final approach radial from the facility to the missed approach point. The facility operation was satisfactory.

COMMUNICATIONS

At 1422, Ameriflight (AMF) 2591 contacted Helena ground control to report that they were ready to taxi for the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight to Butte. The flight was cleared to taxi to runway 27 for the Helena 2 Departure. The controller cleared AMF 2591 to Butte via the Helena 2 departure for victor 113 at 14,000 feet. Departure frequency was reported as 119.5 and the transponder code squawk was 4315. The pilot correctly read the clearance back and at 1433, the flight was cleared for takeoff.

At 1435, AMF 2591 contacted departure control to report that they were at 5,000 feet and climbing to 14,000 feet. At 1440, AMF 2591 was instructed to contact Salt Lake City Center. AMF 2591 contacted Salt Lake Center to report that they were over the Helena VOR at 12,600 feet, climbing to 14,000. The controller acknowledged AMF 2591 and reported that they were in radar contact.

At 1442, AMF 2591 informed Salt Lake Center that they were at 14,000 feet and that they had the "one minute weather at Butte," indicating that "at Butte looks like things are improved but we'll go ahead and start with the VOR bravo approach today via the seven DME (distance measuring equipment) arc." The controller cleared AMF 2591 for the VOR B approach at 1447. At 1449, the controller informed AMF 2591 that radar contact was lost and for the flight to change to advisory frequency was approved. The controller instructed AMF 2591 to report cancellation or arrival time on the current frequency. AMF 2591 responded that they would cancel on the ground.

At 1505, the Salt Lake Center controller attempted to contact AMF 2591. There was no response from the flight.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

On March 23, 2006, investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, Raytheon Aircraft Company, Pratt & Whitney and Ameriflight conducted an on-site documentation of the wreckage.

The mountainous terrain was covered with snow to a depth of about four feet. The area was covered with dense deciduous trees with areas of clearings.

The approximate initial impact was determined to be a grouping of trees with the tops broken off. The trees were about 100 feet in height with the top branches having a diameter of about 6 inches. Utilizing a hand held global positioning system (GPS) unit, the area was about N 45 degrees 54.081 minutes latitude, W 112 degrees 37.094 minutes longitude at a terrain elevation of 6,880 feet. This location is approximately 9 nautical miles on a magnetic heading of approximately 130 degrees from the CPN VOR.

The left wing tip was found uphill (approximate 25 degree terrain angle) on a 125 - 130 degree heading from the initial impact trees. The left wing tip section measured 6 feet in length and displayed a circular indentation along the leading edge. The location was N 45 degrees 54.06 minutes latitude, W 112 degrees 37.078 minutes longitude. The terrain elevation was 6,920 feet with 100 foot trees in the immediate area.

The right wing tip was found along the 125 -130 degree heading. The terrain angle leveled off in the immediate area. The section of right wing tip measured 7 feet. Two circular indentations were noted along the leading edge. One indentation measured 6 inches across, the other measured 15 inches across. Wood fragments were noted within the metal folds. About one foot of aileron section was still attached at the outboard hinge. The location was N45 degrees 54.038 minutes latitude, W 112 degrees 37.034 minutes longitude. The terrain elevation was 6,968 feet.

The main wreckage was located in a heavily wooded area at the edge of a clearing. Trees varied in height to about 100 feet with varying diameters to the tree trunks. The trees at the edge of the clearing were identified as the initial ground impact. At the base of the initial grouping of trees, the right wing section from the wing root to the engine nacelle was wrapped around the trunk of one tree. Impact damage was noted to the tree trunk and to a tree located 15 feet to the left. The empennage section and a section of the left side aft fuselage with the airstair door attached at the lower aft hinge were found. Control cables attached at the aft end of the empennage were noted. The cable length measured 26 feet. A magnetic heading from this point along the wreckage distribution path to the furthest item was 125 degrees. The empennage section had the vertical stabilizer attached with the rudder separated at the hinges but still in place lying on the ground with the control cables attached. The left side horizontal stabilizer spar was bent aft. The outer skin was torn away with a circular indentation noted near the root area. Three sections of the stabilizer were found within the local area. These sections displayed circular indentations along the leading edge. The right side stabilizer remained intact and attached to the aft fuselage. A 30-inch in length circular indentation was noted at the root area. The elevator remained attached. The left side aileron control cables from the bellcrank to the nacelle remained attached. The rudder trim was in the neutral position.

Approximately 52 feet into the wreckage path, the nose gear assembly was found followed by the center fuselage area and cockpit at 55 feet. The main part of the fuselage was at N 45 degrees 53.980 minutes latitude, W 122 degrees 36.964 minutes longitude. The terrain elevation was 6,956 feet. This section of fuselage was destroyed by heat distress and reduced to ash and melted metal. To the right of the main wreckage, 21 feet away was the right engine with the propeller assembly detached. The propeller assembly for this engine was found within 15 feet of the engine. All three propeller blades remained in the hub. All three propeller blades displayed "S" bending deformation and impact gouges to the blade edges.

Miscellaneous pieces of debris were found leading up to the left engine, which was 123 feet from the initial ground impact point. The propeller assembly remained attached.

Documentation of the cabin area found that the flap actuators were destroyed. The flap control in the cockpit was found at the flaps 30% approach position. The landing gear lever was found in the extended position.

ELT Artex model 00-10-009 Rev C. S/N: A22480 was found by search and rescue personnel in the aft fuselage. The unit was armed and had been emitting a week signal. The antenna cable was pulled out. On Sunday March 19, 2006, a commercial airliner and a general aviation aircraft heard a signal. On March 20, 2006, about 0800 a search helicopter located the wreckage. Adverse weather hampered air searches.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

The State Medical Examiners Forensic Science Division, State of Montana, performed post-mortem examinations on the PIC and the second pilot. The Medical examiner reported that the cause of death to the PIC was due to blunt force injuries. The cause of death to the second pilot was due to thermal injuries.

Toxicological samples from both occu

NTSB Probable Cause

The second pilot's failure to follow the published instrument approach procedure and the captain/PIC's inadequate supervision. Snow and mountain obscuration were factors.