Gruber BEELZABUB N382T

Summary

On 14 September 2018 at about 18:20 local time, a Gruber BEELZABUB registered N382T was involved in an accident near Rochester, Washington, 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

14 September 2018 at 18:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Rochester, Washington, United States

Coordinates

46.7133, -122.9464

Aircraft

Gruber BEELZABUB

Registration

N382T

Category

Airplane

Year built

2007

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR18FA261

2 people died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree while maneuvering at a low altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

**This report was modified on September 15, 2022. Please see the public docket for this accident to view the original report.** A witness reported that the airplane overflew the area, about 500 ft above ground level, before it descended and leveled out. The airplane was in a wings-level attitude when the left wing struck a lone tree that was about 60–70 ft tall. The surrounding trees in the area were about 30–50 ft tall. The airplane continued for about 500 feet before it impacted a forested area and came to rest nose-down against a tree. The witness further reported that the engine was running at the time of the accident. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicology testing detected a low concentration of the opiate morphine in the pilot-rated passenger’s urine specimen but not in the blood specimen, which suggests use was not recent and any sedating effects would not be present. Therefore, the effects of the pilot-rated passenger’s use of morphine were not a factor in the accident. It is likely that the pilot did not see the tree that was taller than the surrounding trees while maneuvering at low altitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.