Beechcraft V35 N9049S
25 March 1997 · Marco Island, Florida, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 25 March 1997 at about 00:12 local time, a Beechcraft V35 registered N9049S, operated by John S. Spriggs, was involved in an accident near Marco Island, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 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 00:12
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Marco Island, Florida, United States
- Coordinates
- 25.9407, -81.5396
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft V35
- Registration
- N9049S
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- John S. Spriggs
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Marathon → Punta Gorda
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- ATL97FA054
People
3 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
inadvertent flight by the pilot into adverse weather conditions (severe thunderstorms), which led the design stress limits of the airplane being exceeded, subsequent in-flight break-up of the airplane, and an uncontrolled collision with water.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
After departing Marathon, Florida, the aircraft began to encounter instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot received an instrument clearance, including a convective SIGMET warning, and he continued on his flight to Punta Gorda, Florida. At 1907:43, radio contact with the pilot was lost, when the airplane was over the Gulf of Mexico about 20 miles southwest of Marco Island, Florida. Approximately 30 seconds later, radar contact was also lost. Reportedly, the weather in the area included extreme, intense, and very strong weather echoes. The last radar 'hit' of the airplane showed two distinct returns approximately 3/4 of a mile apart; an in-flight breakup of the airplane was presumed to have occurred. One occupant (a private pilot, who was fatally injured) and minimal airplane debris were recovered. The other 2 occupants were presumed to be fatally injured.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft V35 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 May 1997 | Beechcraft V35 | Lake George, Colorado, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 23 May 1997 | Beechcraft V35 | Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States | Donald W. Grogan | Fatal | 3 |
| 9 Sep 1997 | Beechcraft V35 | Sulphur Springs, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Feb 1997 | Beechcraft V35 | Orlando, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Jun 1997 | Beechcraft V35 | Daytona Beach, Florida, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 9 Jan 1998 | Beechcraft V35 | Seguin, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Apr 1997 | Cessna 152 | La Crosse, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Apr 1997 | Navion A | Quincy, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Apr 1997 | Diamond DA 20-A1 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | Pelican Airways | No injuries | - |
| 15 Jul 1997 | Cessna 172N | Lakeland, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Apr 1997 | Cessna 150M | Ormond Beach, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jul 1997 | Bellanca 8GCBC | Bunnell, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |