Pilot Debrief

BOEING E75 near Happy Jack, AZ — 2009-08-04

Final reportWPR09LA384
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Date
2009-08-04
Location
Happy Jack, AZ, USA
Aircraft
BOEING E75
Registration
N5195N
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin. Contributing to the accident was the high density altitude.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the high density altitude.

NTSB narrative

The passenger reported that during cruise flight, the pilot “decided to turn around because the airplane was not gaining altitude.” The passenger stated that his head was down looking at a chart as they turned and when he looked up, “they were going down fast and then he blacked out.” Examination of the accident site and airplane by first responders revealed that the airplane impacted the ground within an open field at an elevation of about 6,692 feet mean sea level (msl). Structural damage was observed to the upper and lower left wings and empennage consistent with a stall and a nose down impact. Using reported weather conditions from a weather reporting station located 15 miles northwest of the accident site and the reported accident site elevation, density altitude was calculated to be about 10,681 feet msl. Post accident examination of the recovered airframe and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot decided to turn around instead of addressing altitude issues sooner.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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