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DCA92MA011

1991-12-11 · ROME, Georgia, United States · Fatal · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport RMG

N25BR has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (BELLANCA 17-30A, built 1974), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE CAPTAIN'S DECISION TO INITIATE VISUAL FLIGHT INTO AN AREA OF KNOWN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND LOW CEILINGS AND THE FAILURE OF THE FLIGHTCREW TO MAINTAIN AWARENESS OF THEIR PROXIMITY TO THE TERRAIN.

Factual narrative

BEFORE TAKEOFF, AN IFR FLT PLAN WAS FILED FOR A 15 MIN FLT FROM ROME, GA, TO HUNTSVILLE, AL. TAKEOFF WAS COMMENCED AT 0937 EST WITH THE COPLT FLYING THE ACFT. AFTER A VFR TAKEOFF, THE CAPT CONTACTED ATLANTA CENTER TO OBTAIN AN IFR CLNC. THE CONTROLLER ADVISED THAT OTHER TRAFFIC WAS IN THE AREA & INSTRUCTED THE FLT TO REMAIN VFR (WHILE AN IFR CLNC WAS BEING ARRANGED). AT THAT TIME, THE FLT RPRTD AT 1300' IN VFR CONDS. WHILE WAITING FOR AN IFR CLNC, THE CREW BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT HIGHER TERRAIN & LOW CEILINGS. AT ABOUT 0940, THE CAPT DIRECTED THE COPLT TO FLY 'BACK TO THE RIGHT.' APRX 1 MIN LATER, THE CVR STOPPED RECORDING & RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST WITH THE ACFT. LATER, THE ACFT WAS FOUND WHERE IT HAD COLLIDED WITH THE TOP OF MT LAVENDAR. ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS APRX 1580' MSL. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A GROUND PROXIMITY WARNING SYS. (FOR DETAILS SEE: SUMMARY REPORT) Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_DCA92MA011.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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