Cessna T303 N727RT

Summary

On 3 March 1998 at about 01:05 local time, a Cessna T303 registered N727RT, operated by Jeffrey J. Johnson, was involved in an accident near Midvale, Idaho, United States. 6 people were on board and 6 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 March 1998 at 01:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Midvale, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

44.3797, -116.5805

Aircraft

Cessna T303

Registration

N727RT

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Jeffrey J. Johnson

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Boise → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA98FA042

6 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Radar data indicated that the aircraft completed a figure-eight maneuver at about 3,000 feet AGL, with an estimated airspeed of 140 knots and approximate 40 degree bank angle before leveling out at the completion of the maneuver. The radar data then indicated level flight before a rapid descent. A witness reported observing the aircraft in visual conditions and flying at a high altitude and that it 'appeared fast.' The witness stated that he observed the aircraft make a wide, shallow left turn, then turn back the other way. The nose of the aircraft then started to gradually lower, and the airplane eventually came straight down and started to spin. The witness lost sight of the airplane behind hilly terrain and he did not see the impact. Post-accident examination of the wreckage indicated that the aircraft collided with the terrain in a slight nose-down attitude, located in a gully with approximate 30 degree bank angle. The aircraft then slid downhill to the right and came to rest with the fuselage upright and the empennage was twisted to the right and inverted. No evidence was found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.