Beech C90 accident near East Greenwich, Rhode Island, November 27, 1985
On November 27, 1985 at about 10:41 am local time, a Beech C90, registered N220F, was destroyed in an accident near East Greenwich, Rhode Island (T. F. Green airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 27, 1985 · about 10:41 am local time
- Place
- East Greenwich, Rhode Island · T. F. Green
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech C90 · all C90s on the register
- Registration
- N220F · registry record · serial LJ981
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT NINE MILES SHORT OF THE RWY DURING AN ILS APPROACH TO WARWICK, RI IN IMC WX. THE ACFT HAD BEEN CLEARED TO DESCEND FROM 13000 TO 3000 FT. THE ACFT CRASHED OUTSIDE THE OUTER MARKER. THE CO-PLT HAD REPORTED THE ACFT AS INSIDE THE OUTER MARKER. THE CREW DID NOT REPORT ANY ACFT PROBLEMS. THE APPROACH PROCEDURE REQUIRES THAT THE FLT CROSS THE OUTER MARKER AT 1800 FT MSL. 5 MILES FROM TOUCHDOWN. MINIMUM WX IS 200 FT CEILING & 1/2 MILE VIS. SURFACE OBSERVATION AT TIME OF THE ACC WAS 300 FT OVERCAST WITH 1 & 1/2 MILES VISIBILITY. POST ACC EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE FAILED TO DISXLOSE ANY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES IN THE EQUIPMENT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,005 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 11,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,472 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 19, 1985; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,650 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A-21 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Morristown NJ at 9:30 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 5, 7,166 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 350° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:43 am from PVD, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL86FA032.