Pilot Debrief

BEECH 95 near Minden, NV — 2009-05-09

Final reportWPR09FA235
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Date
2009-05-09
Location
Minden, NV, USA
Airport
KMIV
Aircraft
BEECH 95
Registration
N1533Z
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
5
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering during a low altitude maneuver that resulted in a stall.

NTSB narrative

Witnesses reported that the pilot had taken four friends that were attending an outdoor working group on a local flight. The airplane made two to three low passes over the working group. On the final pass, the airplane was slightly above the tops of the local houses, between 100 and 300 feet above ground level (agl). Recovered GPS data indicated that the airplane was traveling from northeast to southwest at 120 knots ground speed. The witnesses stated that the airplane then made a sudden steep climbing left turn that approached 90 degrees angle of bank, appeared to decelerate at the top of the climbing turn, then dropped towards the ground nose first to ground impact. The witnesses noted that the engines could be heard "running perfectly" throughout the maneuver. Post accident examination of the airplane established continuity from all control surfaces to the cockpit. Examination of both engines revealed no abnormal conditions or signatures.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided steep climbing turn to prevent loss of control.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents13

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