Beechcraft BE-58 N60UU

Summary

On 26 April 1998 at about 04:50 local time, a Beechcraft BE-58 registered N60UU was involved in an accident near Kerrville, Texas, 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.

Date

26 April 1998 at 04:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Kerrville, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Kerrville Municipal (ERV)

Coordinates

30.0396, -99.1291

Aircraft

Beechcraft BE-58

Registration

N60UU

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Grand Praire → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

FTW98FA192

3 people died.

The non-instrument rated pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control due to spatial disorientation. Factors were the dark night conditions, overcast skies, and the pilot's inadequate preflight planning.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-instrument rated private pilot lost control of the twin engine airplane while attempting to divert to an airport with a lighted runway in dark night conditions with overcast skies and mist. During a weather briefing 4 hours before departure, the pilot was briefed on weather deteriorating near midnight and that runway 12/30 was closed at the destination airport. Upon arrival at the destination, the pilot made several attempts to activate runway lights for runway 20 before he inquired and was informed by the controller that runway 20 did not have runway lights. The pilot requested a diversion to the closest airport with runway lights and at least a 3,500 foot runway. The pilot was given a heading to an airport 18 miles away. This was the last transmission acknowledged by the pilot. The airplane impacted terrain in a steep nose down attitude. Examination of the airframe and engines did not reveal evidence of any structural or mechanical anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.