Pilot Debrief

BEECH 58 near Ulysses, KS — 2018-02-23

Final reportCEN18FA108
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Date
2018-02-23
Location
Ulysses, KS, USA
Airport
ULS
Aircraft
BEECH 58
Registration
N678DD
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

An inflight loss of control and collision with terrain for reasons that could not be determined.

NTSB narrative

The instrument-rated private pilot and one passenger departed on a personal flight in the pilot's multi-engine airplane in night visual meteorological conditions. A witness saw the lights of the accident airplane about 2 minutes after it departed. Within several seconds, the lights "fell quickly like a shooting star," followed by an orange flash of fire as the airplane impacted terrain. There was no radar or radio communications information associated with the airplane. The wreckage was severely fragmented, and the evidence at the accident site was consistent with a high-energy impact in a left-wing-low, nose-down attitude. Examination revealed no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical deficiencies with the airplane or engines. Autopsy and toxicology testing of the pilot revealed no evidence of physiological impairment or incapacitation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff due to lack of contact with ATC and night conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents9

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