Beechcraft C90A N55EP

Summary

On 19 December 2004 at about 01:55 local time, a Beechcraft C90A registered N55EP was involved in an accident near Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 December 2004 at 01:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Salt Lake City Intl (SLC)

Coordinates

40.7883, -111.9783

Aircraft

Beechcraft C90A

Registration

N55EP

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Salt Lake City → Las Vegas

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

DEN05LA039

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to obtain/maintain a proper climb rate and the pilot's premature initiation of the turn (low altitude flight maneuver). Contributing factors include the pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision making, the low altitude, the fog, and the weather antenna.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated the taxi, takeoff roll, and rotation were normal. The pilot maintained runway heading until visual contact with the ground was lost, at which time a left turn to the assigned heading of 240 degrees was initiated. The pilot stated that while in the left turn, an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System warning of sink rate was received. A review of the instrument panel revealed a "climbing left turn" on the left instrument panel and a "descending left turn" on the right instrument panel. The pilot stated that he saw a red light and "immediately pulled hard up" at which time, the airplane struck a weather station antenna. The pilot added full power, leveled the wings and initiated a positive rate of climb, cross referencing both instrument panels until he was clear of the clouds. According to the FAA, the weather station antenna was located approximately 200 feet west of the departure runway, south of the Sierra taxiway, and west of the Romeo taxiway. The antenna measured 40 feet above ground level with a 4 foot lightening arrest rod attached at the top of the antenna. The FAA reported that the airplane impacted the antenna at a 30 foot level. The pilot and co pilot pitot instrument systems were removed from the airplane for bench testing. The test indicated that the systems did not leak and were in compliance with FAR 91.411. An examination of the remaining airplane systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies. According to the aviation routine weather report taken at 1856, the weather was reported as visibility, 1/4 statute mile, freezing fog; sky condition, overcast 200 feet agl; temperature, minus 03 degrees Celsius (C), dewpoint, minus 04 degrees C.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.