Beech F33A accident near Delaplane, VA
On June 10, 1998, a Beech F33A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Delaplane, VA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 10, 1998
- Place
- Delaplane, VA
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.919°N, 77.920°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X10329
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 10, 1998, about 1940 eastern daylight time, a Beech F33, N6033U, was destroyed when it collided with trees in mountainous terrain near Delaplane, Virginia. The certificated private pilot, and private pilot rated passenger (PRP), were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The personal flight originated at North Wilkesboro, North Carolina (UKF), at 1800, and was destined for Frederick (FDK), Maryland. The personal flight followed the successful completion of a VFR cross country flying event. According to the Chairperson of the U.S. Air Race, Inc., the event organizers terminated the daylight and VFR-only event early because weather conditions did not appear to permit a VFR flight from UKF to FDK. Earlier in the day, the pilot and PRP had flown from Dayton, Ohio to North Carolina. The subject flight to FDK was planned in order to attend a dinner scheduled the next evening. Other pilots who had completed the same event departed VFR, IFR, or rented a car to drive to FDK. All other VFR flights deviated en route and landed at alternate airports or filed an IFR flight plan. According to the Chairperson of the U.S. Air Race, Inc., in preceding years the pilot and PRP had successfully completed about a dozen similar cross country flying events together or as a part of other teams. The majority of the flights en route contacted the FAA Approach Control at Baltimore-Washington International Airport for instrument clearances due to instrument meteorological con
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision which led to VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Also causal was the pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance resulting in collision with mountainous terrain. Contributing factors were low clouds, fog, mountainous terrain, obscuration, low altitude flying and the pilot's self-induced pressure.
More accidents in VA
- Boeing 757-200, Sep 11, 2001
- Beech B99, Sep 23, 1985
- Beech 65, Sep 10, 1995
- Beech 200, Oct 24, 2004
- Piper PA-31-310, Nov 14, 1982
Browse: Virginia · 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.
