Pilot Debrief

Beechcraft B200 near Leominster, Massachusetts — 2003-04-04

Final reportIAD03FA043
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Date
2003-04-04
Location
Leominster, Massachusetts, USA
Aircraft
Beechcraft B200
Registration
N257CG
Category
Airplane

Probable cause

The pilot's low altitude maneuver using an excessive bank angle, and his failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with a building. A factor was the pilot's impairment from prescription medications.

NTSB narrative

On April 4, 2003, at 0935 EST, a Beechcraft B200, N257CG, impacted a building in Leominster, Massachusetts, during an approach to Fitchburg Municipal Airport in instrument meteorological conditions. The flight departed LaGuardia with seven occupants after picking up five passengers. Six occupants were fatally injured, one seriously injured, and one person in the building received minor injuries.

The crew obtained weather briefings and requested the GPS Runway 14 approach at Fitchburg. Radar data showed the aircraft descended along the approach course, passing below minimums at the missed approach point and continuing descent to impact. The surviving passenger reported normal flight until experiencing extreme left banking maneuvers, rolling "almost completely upside down" before entering a dive into the building.

Airport witnesses heard the crew request runway conditions via Unicom and observed the airplane maneuvering in low clouds.

Evidence available

  • CVR
  • ATC audio
  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 17 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents17