Cessna 320E N3488Q

Summary

On 17 February 1989 at about 22:00 local time, a Cessna 320E registered N3488Q was involved in an accident near Melrose, Florida, 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

17 February 1989 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Melrose, Florida, United States

Coordinates

29.7008, -82.0491

Aircraft

Cessna 320E

Registration

N3488Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Marco Island → Gainesville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA89FA088

2 people died.

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPLY PROMPTLY WITH ATC INSTRUCTIONS AND HIS LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT INITIATED A CROSSCOUNTRY FLIGHT AND ENCOUNTERED IMC CONDITIONS NEAR HIS DESTINATION. HE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED AN IFR CLEARANCE. THE PILOT CONSISTENTLY DID NOT RESPOND TO ATC INSTRUCTIONS. THE FINAL ATC VECTOR TO INTERCEPT THE LOCALIZER COURSE REQUIRED A 220 DEGREE RIGHT TURN WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A 30 DEGREE ANGLE OF INTERCEPT. DURING THE TURN AIRCRAFT CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A FARM YARD. WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING STRONG ENGINE SOUNDS PRIOR TO IMPACT. EXAM OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. EXAM OF THE PROPS SHOWED IMPACT DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH CRUISE POWER. THE WRECKAGE EXAM INDICATED THE GEAR AND FLAPS IN THE UP AND RETRACTED POSITION. NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO THE PILOT'S RECENCY OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE OR INSTRUMENT COMPETENCY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.