Beechcraft A35 N566B

Summary

On 18 September 1989 at about 18:10 local time, a Beechcraft A35 registered N566B, operated by U.s. Coast Guard, was involved in an accident near Escondido, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 September 1989 at 18:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Escondido, California, United States

Coordinates

33.2210, -117.0994

Aircraft

Beechcraft A35

Registration

N566B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

U.s. Coast Guard

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Diego → Corona

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW89GA170

2 people died.

SPATIAL DISORIENTATION OF THE PILOT AFTER HE INITIATED FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS, AND HIS EXCEEDING THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE ATTEMPTED RECOVERY. RELATED FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL AND RECENT INSTRUMENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, AND THE OPERATOR'S INADEQUATE RECURRENT TRAINING PROGRAM.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS CLEARED FOR A CLIMB TO CRUISE AND WAS ADVISED TO MAINTAIN VFR. A POST-ACCIDENT WEATHER STUDY INDICATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN IMC CONDITIONS FROM ABOUT 3000 FEET THROUGH 7500 FEET MSL. AFTER INITIATING A CLIMB ON COURSE, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AT 7100 FEET AND IT ENTERED A RIGHT DESCENDING SPIRAL. DURING THE UNCONTROLLED DESCENT, JUST PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT, THE OUTER 1/2 OF THE RIGHT WING SEPARATED IN OVERSTRESS. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT HAD LOGGED A TOTAL OF 5 HOURS OF ACTUAL AND 14 HOURS OF HOOD TIME, THE LAST OF WHICH WAS LOGGED 2-1/2 YEARS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE OPERATOR DID NOT HAVE AN INSTRUMENT OR INADVERTENT IMC TRAINING PROGRAM.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.