Beechcraft G36 N7215J

Summary

On 9 September 2017 at about 21:13 local time, a Beechcraft G36 registered N7215J was involved in an accident near Benicia, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 September 2017 at 21:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Benicia, California, United States

Coordinates

38.1067, -122.1261

Aircraft

Beechcraft G36

Registration

N7215J

Category

Airplane

Year built

2006

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Concord → Arcata/Eureka

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR17FA200

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which caused the airplane to exceed its critical angle of attack and led to an aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot and passenger departed for a personal cross-country flight. Radar data indicated that the flight track after takeoff was consistent with the course to the destination airport. During the first few minutes of flight, the radar data indicated that the airplane was in a climb. However, during the last 2 minutes of flight, as the airplane neared its level-off altitude, the airplane's speed had decreased and was approaching the stall speed, which was between 68 and 73 knots, depending on the airplane's bank. The calibrated airspeed was calculated to be about 62 knots at the last radar return. At that time, the airplane had entered a right turn and was rapidly descending. The airplane impacted terrain about 9 miles from the departure airport. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Signatures at the accident site and the damage to the airplane indicated a near vertical impact, which was consistent with an aerodynamic stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.