Beechcraft D-50E N2R

Summary

On 28 May 1993 at about 20:30 local time, a Beechcraft D-50E registered N2R, operated by William D. Ross, was involved in an accident near Lee Vining, California, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 May 1993 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Lee Vining, California, United States

Coordinates

37.9910, -119.1096

Aircraft

Beechcraft D-50E

Registration

N2R

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

William D. Ross

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Visalia → Carson City

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX93FA231

4 people died.

The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation; inadequate in-flight planning and decision making; and the pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE CERTIFICATED NON-INSTRUMENT RATED COMMERCIAL PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS DEPARTED ON A RETURN PORTION OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT OVER HIGH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE PILOT OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING FOR THE FIRST PORTION OF THE FLIGHT, BUT NOT FOR THE RETURN FLIGHT. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE MOUNTAIN TOPS IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT WERE OBSCURED BY CLOUDS. WHILE IN A LEFT TURN, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK SNOW COVERED TERRAIN AT THE END OF A BOWL SHAPED CANYON, ABOUT 400 FEET BELOW THE TOP OF A RIDGE LINE. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND WITH THE AIRPLANE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.