- Date
- March 27, 1991, 16:05 local (23:05 UTC)
- Place
- Vail, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N27LBeech 58P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 10, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910327007689A
- Case key
- 26991
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 failure of both pilots to maintain control of the airplane.
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 owner/pilot had purchased the airplane in Minnesota, and had hired an instructor pilot with 1000 hours in type to fly back to Arizona with him, and then to fly each day with him until he became qualified and proficient in the airplane. Radar tracking data indicated a route to the east practice area after departure where the airplane maneuvered between 5400 and 7300 feet MSL. Terrain elevation in the area is about 3000 feet MSL. Radar data was recorded for 47 minutes. At a point where ground speed was indicated to be 72 knots, the airplane started a rapid descent and was lost from radar at 4100 feet MSL. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane spinning clockwise in the practice area. The landing gear and flaps were found in the down position.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N27L
- Reported as
- Beech 58P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- TJ-344
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-WB, 325 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Paul D. Dempsey
- Registered owner
- Paul D. Dempsey
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Departed
- TUS · Tucson, AZ
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
- 43
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 416 total · 6 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 21 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,500 ft broken
- Observed at
- TUS, 13 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.