Cessna 340A accident near Melbourne, FL
On March 23, 2006, a Cessna 340A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Melbourne, FL. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- March 23, 2006
- Place
- Melbourne, FL
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 28.103°N, 80.690°W
- NTSB ID
- 20060328X00356
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 23, 2006, about 1057 eastern standard time, a Cessna 340A airplane, N37JB, registered to RAC LTD., had an in-flight loss of control and collided with terrain while on final approach to land at Melbourne International Airport, Melbourne, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 business flight from Craig Municipal Airport, Jacksonville, Florida, to Melbourne International Airport. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire, and the commercial certificated pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The flight originated about 0955, from Craig Municipal Airport. After takeoff with visual flight rules (VFR) flight following, the flight proceeded towards the destination airport and contact was made with several air traffic control (ATC) facilities. According to preliminary ATC information, about 1049, an occupant of the airplane contacted the Melbourne International Airport Air Traffic Control Tower and advised the controller that the flight was 22 miles to the north. The flight continued and the controller questioned the location of the flight, to which an occupant advised the controller that the flight was 4 miles from the airport. The controller advised the flight to proceed westbound for spacing with a single engine airplane that was flying at 1,000 feet, and an occupant of the airplane advised they were looking for the airplane. The controller advised the flight to turn onto final approach for runway 9L, and the single engine airplane was on a 1.5
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed to avoid a stall during the final approach to land. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to the use of a sedating antihistamine.
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 · Cessna 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.
