Pilot Debrief

Hawker Beechcraft 58P near Stonewall, CO — 2008-12-21

Final reportCEN09FA097
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Date
2008-12-21
Location
Stonewall, CO, USA
Aircraft
Hawker Beechcraft 58P
Registration
C-GGBT
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The pilot's inadvertent flight into mountain wave activity resulting in a loss of control and subsequent impact with mountainous terrain.

NTSB narrative

The pilot maneuvered the twin-engine pressurized airplane to a level attitude about 18,000 feet mean sea level (msl). Approximately 30 minutes later, while approaching the downwind side of a ridge of mountains, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and impacted mountainous terrain. During the last radio transmissions from the pilot, he reported having serious difficulties; however, he was unsure of the exact nature of the problem. Following the loss of radar contact, a pilot from a passing airplane approached the accident area and located the wreckage. As the pilot circled the wreckage, he encountered a mountain wave event and elected to depart the area. A meteorological study of weather conditions in the accident area indicated the potential for severe mountain wave activity at the time of the accident. There were also numerous pilot reports specifically identifying encounters with mountain waves and/or severe or extreme turbulence at flight levels close to the accident area. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have opted to return to PUB after reporting difficulties.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ATC audio
  • Photos
  • 14 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents14

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