Glasair GL20 N518EC

Summary

On 16 April 1996 at about 20:05 local time, a Glasair GL20 registered N518EC was involved in an accident near Rocky Mount, Virginia, 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

16 April 1996 at 20:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Rocky Mount, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

36.9893, -79.8909

Aircraft

Glasair GL20

Registration

N518EC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Greensville → Leesburg

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD96LA063

2 people died.

the pilot's continued flight into adverse weather conditions which led to airframe ice and a loss of control. Related factors were: the failure of the FSS briefer to advise the pilot of a valid AIRMET regarding icing conditions, the icing conditions, and turbulence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was cruising at 13,000 feet msl in IMC conditions when the pilot requested and received clearance to descend to 9,000 feet to avoid flying in the clouds. Radar data indicates that moments later the airplane made a turn to the right and descended abruptly, then disappeared from radar and radio contact. Witnesses reported that there were severe storms in the area, including hail, heavy rain, high winds, thunder, and lightning at the time of the accident. Analysis of satellite imagery indicated a temperature of -12 degrees at 9,000 feet msl and a freezing level at 4,700 feet msl. AIRMET Zulu Update 2 for icing conditions pertained to the route of flight, and there were numerous pilot reports of turbulence and icing conditions in the vicinity of the accident. There was no record that the pilot was advised by FSS of the AIRMET information about the icing conditions. ATC records indicated that the pilot had encountered severe turbulence at altitudes below 13,000 feet during the 1 1/2 hours before the accident. According to the Owners Manual, the airplane must not be exposed to icing encounters of any intensity.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.