Medford - Gold Beach

Witnesses heard the airplane circle twice before the approach. A fog bank had just rolled into the area and visibility was reduced to approximately one mile with the bases at 200 to 300 feet. The airplane was observed emerging from the fog in a steep left turn and descending rapidly; right of center line, on a one mile final. The left bank angle increased to near 90° when the nose dipped down and the airplane collided with a parked vehicle 150 feet right of centerline and 50 feet short of the runway. Unicom not manned. No radio in ambulance on ground. Basic weather data shown from north bend, 60 miles north. All three pilots were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Medford - Gold Beach

Registration

N25ST

MSN

LJ-507

Year of Manufacture

1971

Operator

Mercy Flights

Date

August 21, 1989 at 12:50 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Gold Beach Oregon

Region

North America • United States of America

Coordinates

42.4074°, -124.4217°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On August 21, 1989 at 12:50 PM, Medford - Gold Beach experienced a crash involving Beechcraft 90 King Air, operated by Mercy Flights, with the event recorded near Gold Beach Oregon.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

3 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Witnesses heard the airplane circle twice before the approach. A fog bank had just rolled into the area and visibility was reduced to approximately one mile with the bases at 200 to 300 feet. The airplane was observed emerging from the fog in a steep left turn and descending rapidly; right of center line, on a one mile final. The left bank angle increased to near 90° when the nose dipped down and the airplane collided with a parked vehicle 150 feet right of centerline and 50 feet short of the runway. Unicom not manned. No radio in ambulance on ground. Basic weather data shown from north bend, 60 miles north. All three pilots were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N25ST, MSN LJ-507, year of manufacture 1971.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 42.4074°, -124.4217°.

Fatalities

Total

3

Crew

3

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

Witnesses heard the airplane circle twice before the approach. A fog bank had just rolled into the area and visibility was reduced to approximately one mile with the bases at 200 to 300 feet. The airplane was observed emerging from the fog in a steep left turn and descending rapidly; right of center line, on a one mile final. The left bank angle increased to near 90° when the nose dipped down and the airplane collided with a parked vehicle 150 feet right of centerline and 50 feet short of the runway. Unicom not manned. No radio in ambulance on ground. Basic weather data shown from north bend, 60 miles north. All three pilots were killed.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

3

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 3

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Medford - Gold Beach

Operator

Mercy Flights

Flight Type

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Registration

N25ST

MSN

LJ-507

Year of Manufacture

1971