# Accident 20041023028949A: Beech F33A, Flat Rock, NC, October 23, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 23, 2004, 10:45 local time
- Place: Flat Rock, NC
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3156° N, 82.3531° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3156&lon=-82.3531&mi=10
- Aircraft: N18303, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N18303-2015-05-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech F33A (registry code 1151425, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f33a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH F33A
- Reported engine: CONT IO520*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 255 total, 38 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL05FA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05FA008) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041023028949A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON OCTOBER 23, 2004, AT 1100 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A BEECH BONANZA F33A, N18303, REGISTERED TO AIR EQUIPMENT, INC. AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE PILOT, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN THE VICINITY OF FLAT ROCK, NORTH CAROLINA. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 WITH AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT PLAN FILED. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM HENDERSONVILLE AIRPORT, HENDERSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, ON OCTOBER 23, 2004, AT 1055 EASTERN STANDARD TIME. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS AT THE HENDERSONVILLE AIRPORT, THE PILOT WAITED AT THE AIRPORT FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR WHILE HE CHECKED THE WEATHER AND DECIDED WHETHER OR NOT TO DEPART DUE TO LOW OVERCAST CLOUDS AND FOG. THE WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT BACK TAXIING ON RUNWAY 14 FOR A SOUTHEAST DEPARTURE. THE WITNESS ALSO OBSERVED, AFTER TAKEOFF, THAT THE LANDING GEAR WAS ABOUT 1/3RD RETRACTED AS IT PASSED OUT OF VIEW OVER SOME TREES. THE WITNESS HEARD, OVER A RADIO AT THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT CALL ASHEVILLE APPROACH AND HEARD ASHEVILLE APPROACH CALL "RADAR CONTACT". AT THE ACCIDENT SITE, WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING AN AIRPLANE CIRCLING OVER THE TREETOPS PRIOR TO THE AIRPLANE COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST IN A RAVINE AT THE BASE OF A HILL. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE ENGINE WAS BURIED APPROXIMATELY FOUR FEET BENEATH GROUND LEVEL. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT WING ASSEMBLIES REVEALED LEADING EDGE, ACCORDION CRUSH DAMAGE. THE CABIN SECTION OF THE AIRPLANE WAS BREACHED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS CRUSHED. THE FUSELAGE WAS CRUSHED AND THE VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS WERE SEPARATED FROM THE EMPENNAGE. ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS SURFACES WERE LOCATED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE AND WERE ATTACHED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE AIRFRAME ASSEMBLIES. THE PILOT HAD NOT BEEN EJECTED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE ASHEVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT WEATHER REPORTING FACILITY IN ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, REPORTED ON OCTOBER 23, 2004, AT 1054 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, WINDS FROM 150 DEGREES AT 7 KNOTS, SKY OVERCAST WITH CLOUDS 700 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, TEMPERATURE 12 DEGREES CELSIUS AND DEW POINT 10 DEGREES CELSIUS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL05FA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05FA008), Oct 23, 2004: Beech F33A (N18303), Flat Rock, NC, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot experienced spatial disorientation, which resulted in a loss of control and the subsequent collision with the ground. Factors were low ceilings and fog.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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