Commander 114B accident near Cross City, FL
On November 30, 1997, a Commander 114B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Cross City, FL. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 30, 1997
- Place
- Cross City, FL
- Aircraft
- Commander 114B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 29.631°N, 83.119°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X09215
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 30, 1997, about 1310 eastern standard time, a Commander 114-B, N302RS, registered to "R" Stuff Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight crashed while maneuvering in the vicinity of Cross City, Florida. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed, but was not activated. The airplane was destroyed. The noninstrument rated private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The flight originated from Crystal River, Florida, about 36 minutes before the accident. The airplane was reported missing on December 3, 1997. The airplane was located on December 4, 1997, at 1334, at N29.36' W83.15'. Review of transcribed communication between N302RS, Jacksonville Approach (Vitts radar VR) and Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center (28) revealed N302RS reported off Crystal River, Florida, climbing through 2,300 feet at 1737Z (1237 EST) to VR. The pilot informed VR that he was en route to Tallahassee via Cross City. He was instructed to squawk 0413 and provided with the local altimeter setting. N302RS was informed he was radar contact 10 miles north of Crystal River Airport, to proceed on course to Tallahassee, and asked what his cruising altitude would be. N302RS stated at 1738:31, "ah were going to try for five thousand five hundred but ah we'll just remain below these ah cloud level here." VR informed N302RS at 1738:48, "okay I'll give you a little pilot report from pilots that ah cruised through the area about ah the last fifteen twenty minutes I talked to pilots at ah six or four, six eight and ten and
Probable cause
VFR flight by the noninstrument-rated pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his failure to maintain control of the aircraft, due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with the terrain (tree, ground & water). Related factors were: the adverse weather condition (low clouds/ceiling), and the pilot's lack of instrument experience.
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Browse: Florida
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
