Cessna 414 accident near DUO, WV
On November 26, 1996, a Cessna 414 (airplane) was involved in an accident near DUO, WV. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 26, 1996
- Place
- DUO, WV
- Aircraft
- Cessna 414 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.261°N, 80.730°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X07103
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 26, 1996, approximately 1208 eastern standard time, a Cessna 414, N73CP, was destroyed when it collided with Beech Knob Mountain during cruise flight near Duo, West Virginia. The certificated commercial pilot and one passenger, the sole occupants, sustained fatal injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The business flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated at Summersville, West Virginia (I07), approximately 1200, with an intended destination of Waynesboro, Virginia (W13). According to Air Traffic Control (ATC) records from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot of N73CP contacted Charleston Approach Control, at 1202, and advised he was "off Summersville." In a written statement, the Charleston Tower Control Specialist reported: "N73CP departed Summersville Airport and called me airborne VFR requesting his IFR clearance. I issued him a code and told him to maintain VFR ... I asked N73CP his on course heading (100 degrees) and then coordinated with Washington Center for his IFR clearance. I was not able to radar identify the aircraft and I lost radio contact with him before I could issue the IFR clearance." At 1207, ATC requested an altitude report from N73CP, and received no response. Subsequent attempts to contact the airplane were unsuccessful. Attempts to identify the airplane on radar were also unsuccessful. The Indianapolis Air Traffic Control Center reported establishing radar contact with N73CP, and plotting its position two separate times before radar contac
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate inflight decision which resulted in VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions and his failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance which resulted in an inflight collision with terrain. The low ceiling was a factor.
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Browse: West Virginia · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
