Beechcraft A36 N100JB

Summary

On 7 January 2019 at about 18:50 local time, a Beechcraft A36 registered N100JB was involved in an accident near Colusa, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 January 2019 at 18:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Colusa, California, United States

Nearest airport

Colusa County (O08)

Coordinates

39.1531, -122.0200

Aircraft

Beechcraft A36

Registration

N100JB

Category

Airplane

Year built

1984

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Colusa → Palo Alto

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR19LA058

2 people died.

The pilot's loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation shortly after takeoff in instrument meteorological conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot, who did not possess a current medical certificate, departed in instrument meteorological conditions on a cross-country flight with a passenger onboard. A witness at the departure airport reported that at the time of takeoff, the cloud ceiling was about 500 ft above ground level with visibility of about 1 mile. Radar information revealed that the airplane turned to a southwesterly heading after departure, consistent with a heading toward their intended destination. The data showed that about 10 seconds after takeoff, as the airplane ascended through about 725 ft mean sea level (msl), a right turn was initiated. During the initial portion of the turn, the airplane continued to ascend to about 825 ft msl, where it remained for about 7 seconds. The airplane then began a descent while remaining in the right turn until impact. Maneuvering the airplane in restricted visibility placed the pilot in conditions conducive to the development of spatial disorientation. The accident circumstances, including the tightening descending turn, and the subsequent high-energy impact, are consistent with the known effects of spatial disorientation. Additionally, examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preexisting anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Part of the flight control system was highly fragmented and could not be examined; however, the portions that remained intact did not exhibit any preexisting anomalies. Therefore, it is likely that the pilot was experiencing the effects of spatial disorientation when the accident occurred. The pilot’s autopsy revealed severe cardiac disease, and although incapacitation as a result of this was possible, the pilot's loss of control suggests spatial disorientation was a more likely initiating event. Thus, it is unlikely that any symptoms from the pilot's severe cardiac disease contributed to this accident. The pilot also had bipolar disorder, but the extent of symptoms and whether they contributed to the accident could not be determined from the available information. However, the pilot had an established history of using medications to control the disease; therefore, some of the negative effects may have likely improved.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.