Pilot Debrief

BEECH 58 near Manhattan, IL — 2012-12-04

Final reportCEN13FA089
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Date
2012-12-04
Location
Manhattan, IL, USA
Airport
JOT
Aircraft
BEECH 58
Registration
N4016A
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1

Probable cause

An in-flight loss of control and impact with terrain for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting pipeline surveillance at the time of the accident. A witness reported that he observed the accident airplane in level flight about 50 feet above a nearby two-story house. Everything appeared normal at that time; however, when he looked up a few moments later, the airplane was “sideways” with the wings oriented vertically. The airplane impacted an open field. The accident site was located about 1/3 mile east-southeast of the pipeline under surveillance. The debris path was about 950 feet long, and the airframe was fragmented during the impact sequence. A postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction. Analysis of all available information related to the accident did not reveal a definitive cause for the in-flight loss of control and impact with terrain.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have maintained altitude to avoid loss of control.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents16

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