# NTSB WPR24LA211: Beech 58P, N9NS, Escalante, UT, June 19, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 18, 2024, 20:09 local (Jun 19, 2024, 02:09 UTC) - Place: Escalante, UT - Coordinates: 37.5187, -111.1955 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5187&lon=-111.1955&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 194547 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA211 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194547/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA211 ## Probable cause The failure of the windshield for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Windows-windshield system: flight compartment windows](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035610): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 58P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035610/cases.md?model=1152744), [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035610/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 58P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=1152744), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the pressurized airplane was in cruise flight at an altitude of 21,000 ft when the front windshield broke apart and the airplane depressurized. The pilot donned his oxygen mask while initiating an emergency descent, diverted to the nearest airport, and landed without further incident. Examination revealed that the center area of the windshield had departed the airplane, and portions of the windshield remained in the frame. Review of airplane records revealed that the windshield was replaced 1,972 flight hours before the accident. The windshield anti-ice hot plate was resealed several months before the accident; however, whether that maintenance contributed to the failure could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On June 18, 2024, at 2009 mountain daylight time, a Beech 58P airplane, N9NS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Escalante, Utah. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 executive/corporate flight. The pilot stated that, while en route to his destination at a cruise altitude of 21,000 ft, the windshield broke apart without warning and he suddenly experienced the force of an explosive decompression. He donned his oxygen mask and initiated an emergency descent. He opted to divert to the nearest airport and landed without further incident at Page Municipal Airport, Page, Arizona. A postaccident examination revealed that portions of the windshield remained in the frame and the center area had departed the airplane (see Figure 1 below). A portion of the anti-ice heating element, or hot plate, remained attached to the frame. Figure 1: The Windshield After Landing A review of the airplane records revealed that it was repainted in 1993. The windshield was replaced with a new factory windshield in May 1995 at a total time of 2,284.7 hours, 1,972 hours of flight time before the accident. In April 2024, the windshield hot plate was resealed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9NS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9NS), registered now, S/N TJ-238, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 58P - Registry model: [Beech 58P](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58p) (registry code 1152744) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TJ-238 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 4256 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-WB 325 hp reciprocating; Continental TSIO-520-WB 325 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Registered owner: Advanced Network Management Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 24, 2024 - Departed: HND, Henderson, NV - Destination: APA, Englewood, CO - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 29, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,532 total, 341 in this make and model, 1,453 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: KPGA - METAR: KPGA 190153Z AUTO 03006KT 10SM CLR 29/M06 A2980 RMK AO2 SLP029 T02891056 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20240618016589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240618016589A), Jun 18, 2024: Beech 58P, Escalante, UT, Substantial damage. On 6/19/24 pga tower reported the following: "Aircraft squawked emrg at FL210 and started a rapid descent and southbound turn toward the pga airport. From this… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.