Beech 95-55 accident near Pinckneyville, IL
On January 15, 1998, a Beech 95-55 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Pinckneyville, IL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 15, 1998
- Place
- Pinckneyville, IL
- Aircraft
- Beech 95-55 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.070°N, 89.381°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X09403
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 14, 1998, after being cleared for a GPS approach to runway 18 at the Pinckneyville Airport, near Pinckneyville, Illinois, a Beech 95-55, N54643, disappeared from radar at 1806 central standard time. The airplane, which was destroyed by impact with the terrain and a post accident fire, was located about 0700 on January 15, 3.9 nautical miles north of the airport of intended landing, in a wooded area. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was operating on an IFR flight plan. The flight had departed Hillsboro, Illinois, at 1736. Two witnesses reported seeing a "fireball" at the approximate time of the accident and these persons stated that at the time they were experiencing heavy rain and visibility was restricted in fog. At 1710, an individual identifying himself as the pilot of N54643, contacted the Saint Louis (MO) Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS), by phone, requesting current weather information, and to file an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. He obtained weather for Carbondale located 13 miles southeast of Pinckneyville, and stated to the controller, "I'm gonna file an IFR flight plan to go to Pinckneyville, Illinois, and if I can't get in there on a GPS approach, I'll go on to Carbondale as my alternate." At 1722, the pilot contacted the owner of the airplane and told him that he was in Hillsboro and was planning a flight to Pinckneyville. He inquired what the current weather was at that location. He was told that the ceiling was "marginal" for an approach, and it was raining. At that point, t
Probable cause
The pilot descent below minimum descent altitude and his intentional operation with known deficiencies in equipment. Factors were the dark night, fog, rain, and the trees.
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Browse: Illinois · Beech 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.
