Beech 36 accident near Captiva Island, FL
On February 28, 2003, a Beech 36 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Captiva Island, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- February 28, 2003
- Place
- Captiva Island, FL
- Aircraft
- Beech 36 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 26.591°N, 82.191°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030305X00286
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On February 28, 2003, about 1540 eastern standard time, a Beech 36, N41VK, registered to and operated by a private individual, impacted with the ocean waters of Pine Island Sound, shortly after takeoff from North Captiva Air Inc Airport, Captiva Island, Florida. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was destroyed. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The flight departed Captiva Island about 1530 and was en route to Page Field Airport, Fort Myers, Florida. According to witnesses, instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. Page Field Airport is located approximately 19 nautical miles on an easterly heading from Captiva Island. About the first 5 nautical miles of the route are over the open waters of Pine Island Sound. A witness, who was an instrument rated private pilot, observed the airplane depart. The witness stated that the airplane "was in IMC [instrument meteorological conditions] about 100 feet MSL as he departed over the Gulf of Mexico." The witness further stated that "there was heavy fog everywhere." He listened to the sound of the airplane's engine "for a minute or two after departure to be sure there were no unusual sounds." Target radar data from the FAA's Fort Myers TRACON was recorded for the flight from 1535:30 to 1537:09. The first radar hit showed the airplane about 1 nautical mile southeast of the departure airport at 400 feet msl. Between 1535:30 and 1536:45, the airplane maintained an east-northeast heading, initially climbing to 700 feet and then descend
Probable cause
The pilot's VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions and his ensuing failure to maintain altitude/clearance resulting in an in-flight collision with the ocean. A factor was the fog.
More accidents in FL
- Grumman G-73T, Dec 19, 2005
- Beech B90, Jan 5, 1994
- Beech B-90, Sep 3, 1999
- Cessna 182B, Feb 7, 1982
- Pilatus Aircraft Ltd PC-12/47, Jun 7, 2012
Browse: Florida · 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.
