Pilot Debrief

AERO COMMANDER 690 near Myrtle Beach, SC — 2018-11-12

Final reportERA19LA043
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Date
2018-11-12
Location
Myrtle Beach, SC, USA
Airport
MYR
Aircraft
AERO COMMANDER 690
Registration
N840JC
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

An encounter with low-level windshear and turbulence during the landing approach, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was approaching the airport to land in instrument meteorological conditions when he encountered heavy turbulence. He continued the approach and the airplane started to descend rapidly. Although he added full power in an attempt to climb, the airplane continued to descend until it collided with the Atlantic Ocean. The forward portion of the fuselage, which included the cockpit separated from the airplane. The pilot did not report any anomalies with the airplane before the accident. Review of weather information for the area of the airport about the time of the accident revealed light to moderate precipitation with a high potential for moderate turbulence and low-level wind shear below about 2,000 ft. Radar imagery did not reveal signatures typically associated with microburst activity. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot encountered low-level windshear and turbulence during the approach, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the approach due to heavy turbulence and low visibility.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents8

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