Via Inc AERO COMP AC6 accident near Rockledge, FL
On January 17, 1998, a Via Inc AERO COMP AC6 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Rockledge, FL. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 17, 1998
- Place
- Rockledge, FL
- Aircraft
- Via Inc AERO COMP AC6 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 28.310°N, 80.720°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X09395
NTSB summary
On January 17, 1998, at 1715 eastern standard time, a Via Inc., Aero Comp AC6, N656AC, collided with trees and burst into flames while maneuvering near Rockledge, Florida. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. A review of weather data recovered from the nearest reporting facility disclosed that visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was destroyed, and there was a post-impact fire. The airline transport rated pilot and his passenger were fatally injured. The flight departed Merritt Island, Florida, at 1610 EST. According to one of the previous partners of the airplane, the pilot was preparing the airplane for a flight to South America when the accident occurred. The airplane had been flown several times earlier in the day without no apparent problem. The partner stated that the airplane had about 70 gallons of fuel on board when they departed. About forty-five minutes into the flight, several witnesses reported hearing and seeing the airplane before the accident. Witness accounts of the airplane ranged from hearing the engine sputtering to no interruption in engine power. Witnesses reported that the airplane collided with a tree and burst into flames. An examination of the accident site disclosed that wreckage debris was scattered over an area 55 feet wide and 80 feet long. The aircraft impacted the ground in a 60 to 70 degree nose low attitude. Further examination of the accident site disclosed that airplane collided with a tree along the wreckage path prior to the airplane
Probable cause
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the trees in the emergency landing area.
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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.
