Beech A23-24 accident near Bridgeville, DE
On July 15, 2001, a Beech A23-24 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Bridgeville, DE. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 15, 2001
- Place
- Bridgeville, DE
- Aircraft
- Beech A23-24 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.740°N, 75.601°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010724X01487
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 15, 2001, about 1826 eastern daylight time, a Beech A23-24, N5962S, was substantially damaged while maneuvering near Bridgeville, Delaware. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Sugar Hill Airport (DE17), Greenwood, Delaware. No flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to witnesses, the pilot departed DE17, about 1715. He flew over Rehoboth Bay about 1800, and was circling in the vicinity of the accident site, about 1820. One witness stated that the airplane initially climbed, then descended rapidly into a cornfield. The witness added that she heard a consistent engine noise. Another witness stated that the airplane circled his house twice, and he thought the airplane was "a crop-duster setting up for a low pass." The witness heard the engine noise continuously, followed by the sound of the impact. The accident occurred during the hours of daylight; located approximately 38 degrees, 45.39 minutes north latitude; and 75 degrees, 32.22 minutes west longitude. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot was an orthopedic surgeon. He held a private pilot certificate, with ratings for single engine land and instrument airplane. Although the pilot's logbook was not recovered, he reported a total flight experience of 1,030 hours on his most recent application for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical certificate. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane's last annual inspection was performed on May 20, 2001. At that
Probable cause
The pilot's incapacitation, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control while maneuvering. A factor was the FAA Aeromedical Certification Division's inadequate certification/approval of the pilot's medical certificate. Findings were the pilot's inappropriate use of medication, and depression.
More accidents in DE
- Cessna 750, Mar 1, 2012
- Piper PA28, Sep 26, 2015
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Browse: Delaware · 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.
