Beech A36 accident near Flat Rock, NC

On September 10, 2009, a Beech A36 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Flat Rock, NC. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.

Date

September 10, 2009

Place

Flat Rock, NC

Aircraft

Beech A36 · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Substantial

Position

35.254°N, 82.463°W

NTSB ID

20090910X61833

Official records · ERA09FA514

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• ATC 3 - Factual Report of Group Chairman: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - Attachment 1 - ATC Tower Transcripts: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - Attachment 2 - ATC Radar Transcripts: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3 - Attachment 3- Air Traffic Controller Statements: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC 3- Attachment 4- Facility Log: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 10, 2009, about 1415 eastern daylight time, a Hawker Beechcraft Corporation A36, N888WD, registered to a private individual, collided with trees then terrain in a residential area near Flat Rock, North Carolina. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal, local flight, from Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), Asheville, North Carolina. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private pilot, the sole occupant, was killed. The flight originated from AVL about 1403. According to a transcription of communications with AVL Air Traffic Control Tower ATCT), the pilot established contact with the local control position and advised the controller that he had automated terminal information service (ATIS) victor, with intention of flying locally and to execute, “…some approaches….” The controller questioned the pilot as to what type of approaches, to which he replied that he was not interested in, “…doing any ILS approaches….” He also advised the controller that he wanted to perform landings and fly towards Hendersonville, North Carolina, then return to AVL. The controller cleared the pilot to taxi to runway 34, and confirmed that ATIS information victor was current. The controller then questioned the pilot to verify his flight intentions and he replied that after takeoff he intended to fly towards Hendersonville and fly around there for approximately 10 to 15 minutes, then return to AVL and land. The controller provided the pilot with depart

Probable cause

The pilot’s attempt to maintain visual flight during instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in controlled flight into mountainous terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to advise the controller of the weather conditions encountered, and his failure to request minimum safe altitude warning (MSAW) monitoring before departure.

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Browse: North Carolina · Beech aircraft

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.