Britten-Norman BN-2A N866JA

Summary

On 13 November 2021 at about 18:49 local time, a Britten-Norman BN-2A registered N866JA, operated by McPhillips Flying Service Inc, was involved in an accident near Beaver Island, Michigan, United States. 5 people were on board and 4 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 November 2021 at 18:49

Classification

Accident

Location

Beaver Island, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Welke (6Y8)

Coordinates

45.7199, -85.5177

Aircraft

Britten-Norman BN-2A

Registration

N866JA

Category

Airplane

Year built

1970

Engines

2

Operator

McPhillips Flying Service Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Charlevoix → Beaver Island

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22FA031

4 people died.

The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during final approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control at an altitude too low to recover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A pilot-rated witness observed the airplane during the final approach to the destination airport and stated that the airplane was flying slowly, with a high pitch attitude, and was “wallowing” as if nobody was flying. The airplane stalled and impacted the ground about 300 ft from the runway. GPS and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data captured the accident flight, but the ADS-B data ended about 0.24 miles before the accident. GPS data showed that the airplane’s speed was at or near the published stall speed for the airplane’s given loading condition. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Examination of the airplane verified flight and engine control continuity. No preimpact anomalies were found with respect to the airplane, engines, or systems. The pilot allowed the airspeed to decrease during the approach, increased pitch attitude, and exceeded critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin into terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.