Beech F33A accident near Flat Rock, NC
On October 23, 2004, a Beech F33A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Flat Rock, NC. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 23, 2004
- Place
- Flat Rock, NC
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 35.316°N, 82.353°W
- NTSB ID
- 20041029X01725
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 23, 2004, at 0945 eastern daylight time, a Beech Bonanza F33A, N18303, registered to Air Equipment Inc. and operated by a private pilot, collided with the ground in the vicinity of Flat Rock, North Carolina. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with an instrument flight plan filed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from Hendersonville Airport, Hendersonville, North Carolina, on October 23, 2004 at 0938. At 0839, the pilot telephoned the Raleigh Automated Flight Service Station and requested a weather briefing from Hendersonville, North Carolina to Portsmouth, Virginia. After the weather information was given to the pilot he filed an instrument flight plan. At 0938, the pilot was cleared for departure, and at 0942 radar contact was established with the airplane, and the pilot was instructed to turn left direct Sugarloaf VOR. After failing to respond to several calls, the pilot's reply transmission to the inquiry about his altitude cut out after "three thou". The pilot was instructed to climb at a good rate through 5500 feet. At 0945 radar contact was lost with the airplane. According to witnesses the pilot waited at Hendersonville Airport for approximately one hour for improved weather conditions before departing. Witnesses estimated the weather to be 200-300 feet overcast with 1 1/2 miles visibility in fog. The witnesses observed as the airplane departed southeast on runway 14, climb out, and leveled off above the treetops under the cloud la
Probable cause
The pilot experienced spatial disorientation, which resulted in a loss of control and the subsequent collision with the ground. Factors were low ceilings and fog.
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Browse: North Carolina · 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.
