Cessna M337B N1309

Summary

On 18 November 2010 at about 01:53 local time, a Cessna M337B registered N1309, operated by Patriot Technologies Group LLC, was involved in an accident near Avon Park, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 November 2010 at 01:53

Classification

Accident

Location

Avon Park, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

MacDill AFB Auxiliary Field (AGR)

Coordinates

27.6386, -81.4164

Aircraft

Cessna M337B

Registration

N1309

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Patriot Technologies Group LLC

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Avon Park → Avon Park

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ERA11GA066

3 people died.

The pilot's inadvertent encounter with an unexpected intense rain shower with severe turbulence at night.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to the flight, the crew attended a mass briefing with the military training exercise personnel for whose operations the flight was to provide aerial support. The briefing included weather forecast information but did not include any indication of rain showers, thunderstorms, or other hazardous weather over the military operations area or near the landing airport for the period of operations. During the flight, the weather in the area began to deteriorate. Other pilots, ground personnel, and witnesses reported periods of heavy rain and reduced visibility. Infrared satellite imagery for the time period of the accident flight depicted an area of cumulus congestus cloud development over south-central Florida, north of a stationary frontal boundary, moving north. Ground personnel were monitoring the deteriorating weather as the accident airplane continued its mission. Although there may have been discussions of a weather recall, the evidence indicates that this did not occur. The accident pilot likely discontinued his mission and initiated a return to the airport due to the weather conditions. The airplane was not equipped with weather radar. As the airplane approached the airport from the north in night conditions, it encountered the edge of an area of echoes with a maximum core reflectivity of 55 decibels; such echoes are capable of producing severe turbulence and strong outflow winds. The right wing separated in flight, and the airplane crashed inverted in a farm pasture west of the airfield. An examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or failure. All observed fracture surfaces on the right wing showed indications of overstress.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.