Beech C99, Butte, Mont., March 18, 2006–The NTSB attributed the Ameriflight cargo airplane’s crash into mountains to the copilot’s failure to follow the published instrument approach procedure and the captain/PIC’s inadequate supervision. Factors in the accident were snow and mountain obscuration. In addition, IMC in the area included icing conditions and poor visibility.
The 5,219-hour ATP-rated company training and check pilot was the pilot-in-command, flying in the right seat, and a new-hire commercial pilot, training to be captain, was in the left seat; he had 2,023 hours, with 1,130 hours as PIC. He had 17 hours in the Beech 99, none of them as PIC. Both pilots were killed in the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged by the impact and post-crash fire.
The crew was cleared for the VOR or GPS-B approach to Butte’s Bert Mooney Airport via the 7 DME arc and was supposed to track inbound on the 127-degree radial, descending to, but no lower than, 7,700 feet to the IAF, where they were to turn to 097 degrees for 10 nm, descending to 6,900 feet. The aircraft hit trees, then the mountain, on a heading of approximately 127 degrees at about 6,900 feet, approximately 9 nm from the IAF, on a magnetic bearing of 130 degrees.