- Date
- August 27, 1989, 08:38 local (12:38 UTC)
- Place
- Hagerstown, MD
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4917BBeech C50
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 26, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890827031679A
- Case key
- 11471
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane as a result of spatial disorientation after intentionally flying into instrument flight conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's over confidence in his ability and the obscured weather conditions which existed.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The non-instrument rated plt and non-instrument rated plt passenger were flying to andrews afb to attend an airshow when the accident occurred. A fss weather briefing was obtained during which the plt was informed that VFR flt was not recommended. Obscured ceiling and fog existed at the departure arpt and over the mountain ridges enroute. The plt filed VFR and requested a special VFR to get out of the control zone at the departure aprt. Shortly after takeoff, aprx 3 miles from the arpt, the acft descended near vertical and impacted the terrain in a residential area. Witnesses stated the acft sounded 'loud' as it crossed over head prior to impacting the terrain. Post accident inspection failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction with either the airframe or engine. The plt had recently failed his IFR flt test due to problems with altitude and attitude control.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4917B
- Reported as
- Beech C50
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- CH-315
- Airframe hours
- 5,129
- Engine
- Lycoming GO-480-F4A6, 275 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Edward A. Erickson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 29, 1989 · 22 hours before
- Departed
- HGR · Hagerstown, MD
- Destination
- ADW · Camp Springs, MD
- Flight plan
- VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 70
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 938 total · 342 in this make and model · 233 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HGR, 3 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.