Beechcraft 55 N1ZB
19 October 1992 · Leicester, Massachusetts, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 19 October 1992 at about 22:30 local time, a Beechcraft 55 registered N1ZB, operated by Robert L. Powell, was involved in an accident near Leicester, Massachusetts, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 22:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Leicester, Massachusetts, United States
- Nearest airport
- Worcester Municipal (ORH)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft 55
- Registration
- N1ZB
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Robert L. Powell
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Gaithersburg → Worcester
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- NYC93FA026
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDE PATH. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE AND HIS LACK OF RECENT INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AN ILS APPROACH TO RUNWAY 11, AT NIGHT. THE REPORTED VISIBILITY WAS 8 MILES WITH LIGHT RAIN. HE DROPPED BELOW THE GLIDE PATH AND STRUCK AN APPROACH LIGHT TOWER ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. THE PILOT HAD NOT FLOWN AT NIGHT IN ABOUT 90 DAYS. ALSO, HE HAD ONLY FLOWN ABOUT 4 TIMES IN THIS PERIOD. EXAMINATION REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES WITH THE ENGINES, AND THE ILS WAS FLIGHT TESTED SATISFACTORILY. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE 'ON A GRADUAL DECLINE...HIT THE POLE.'
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft 55 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Mar 1992 | Beechcraft 55 | Longmont, Colorado, United States | Klodnicki, David T. | No injuries | - |
| 29 Jul 1992 | Beechcraft 55-95B55B | Delta Junction, Alaska, United States | Eielson AFB Aero Club | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 Feb 1992 | Beechcraft 55 | Wheeling, Illinois, United States | Neighbor, Ernest H | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 May 1991 | Beechcraft 55 | Perry, Georgia, United States | Potter, Douglas A. | No injuries | - |
| 21 Mar 1991 | Beechcraft 55 | Burbank, California, United States | Pacific Air Charter | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 Mar 1991 | Beechcraft 55 | Forest Lake, Minnesota, United States | NOL TEC Systems, Inc. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Aug 1992 | Piper PA-34-200T | Bedford, Massachusetts, United States | Edward Walter | No injuries | - |
| 22 Aug 1992 | Piper PA-32-260 | Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States | Alfred L. Moseley | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Aug 1992 | Aerostar AX-9 | Hopkinton, Massachusetts, United States | Mario Distefano | No injuries | - |
| 13 Aug 1992 | Beechcraft 76 | Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States | John F. Mannix | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 Oct 1992 | Piper PA-38-112 | Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States | Beverly Flight Center, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Oct 1992 | Cessna C-152 | Petersham, Massachusetts, United States | Amity Aircraft Flight School | No injuries | - |