# NTSB NYC91FA239: Convair CV-580, Belvedere Ctr, VT, September 19, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 18, 1991, 21:50 local (Sep 19, 1991, 01:50 UTC)
- Place: Belvedere Ctr, VT
- Location: 44.7500° N, 72.6912° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Belvidere Center, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7500&lon=-72.6912&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36811
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91FA239
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36811/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91FA239

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE FIRST OFFICER (CO-PILOT) TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER BECOMING SPATIALLY DISORIENTED, AND HIS EXCEEDING THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LACK OF TWO PILOTS IN THE COCKPIT, DARKNESS, AND INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) AT FLIGHT ALTITUDE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, copilot/second pilot (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - horizontal stabilizer attachment - overload
  - stabilizer - separation
  - wing - overload
  - wing - separation
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS CRUISING IN NIGHT INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHEN IT ENTERED A LEFT TURN AND EXCEEDED THE DESIGN AIRFRAME LIMITS.  THE AIRPLANE BROKE UP IN THE DESCENT DUE TO AERODYNAMIC FORCES AND WAS DESTROYED..  THE OUTBOARD WING PANELS HAD FAILED DOWNWARD AND CENTER WING SECTION SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE.  THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND ELEVATORS HAD FAILED DOWN AND AFT.  THE CAPTAIN WAS FOUND OUT OF THE COCKPIT WITH NO EVIDENCE OF HIM BEING IN THE SEAT AT IMPACT  A HUMAN FACTORS STUDY FOUND THE AIRCRAFT'S LAST MINUTE OF FLIGHT MATCHED A PROFILE OF A PILOT EXPERIENCING SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: CFICA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CONVAIR CV-580
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 98
- Airframe hours: 39323
- Engines: ALLISON 501-D13D 3750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 129
- Operator: Canair Cargo Ltd
- Registered owner: Canair Cargo Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, September 11, 1991, 25 hours before
- Departed: YQM, MONCTON,N.B.
- Destination: YHM, HAMILTON,ONT
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10,400 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 193 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 150° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BTV, 25 nm away

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.

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