Beech H-18 accident near Morrisonville, New York, March 20, 1984
On March 20, 1984 at about 1:58 am local time, a Beech H-18, registered N218X, was destroyed in an accident near Morrisonville, New York (Clinton County airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was 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
- March 20, 1984 · about 1:58 am local time
- Place
- Morrisonville, New York · Clinton County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech H-18 · all H-18s on the register
- Registration
- N218X · registry record · serial BA 689
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT LANDED ON THE ICE AND SNOW COVERED RWY AFTER LOADING 1512 LBS OF CARGO IN FREEZING DRIZZLE CONDITIONS, HE TAXIED FOR TAKEOFF FOR AN IFR DEPARTURE SHORTLY AFTER ROTATION, THE RIGHT WING DROPPED AND THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN BACK ONTHE RWY. VISUAL EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED ICE ACCUMULATIONS ON THE LEADING EDGES AND UPPER WING SURFACES. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO GET DEICE EQUIP, WHICH WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE PLT WAS OFFERED USE OF A HANGAR WHICH HE DECLINED. THE ARPT MGR WAS EN ROUTE TO CHECK RWY CONDITION FOR PLOWING THE ICE & SNOW COVERED RWY WHEN THE PLT RETURNED TO THE ACFT. AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO REMOVE ICE FROM THE LEADING EDGES BY HAND. THE PLT DECIDED TO ATTEMPT ANOTHER TAKEOFF AND AT THIS TIME WAS ALMOST 1/2 HR BEYOND HIS SCHEDULED DEPARTURE TIME. LIFTOFF WAS APRX 1/5 OF WAY DOWN & AFTER FLYING AT 50 FT AGL INITIATED CLIMB. AFTER ATTAINING AN ALT OF SEVERAL HUNDRED FT, THE ACFT STALLED AND DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED TO IMPACT. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT & FIRE AND THE PLT WAS FATALLY INJURED.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,473 hours in all; 280 in this make and model; 177 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,395 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 14, 1984; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN-14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PLB Plattsburgh NY
- Destination: SYR Syracuse NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 32, 4,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft; scat at 200 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from PBG, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.