Beech B24R accident near Dayton, VA
On August 26, 2012, a Beech B24R (airplane) was involved in an accident near Dayton, VA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 26, 2012
- Place
- Dayton, VA
- Aircraft
- Beech B24R · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.421°N, 79.121°W
- NTSB ID
- 20120826X33639
Official records · ERA12FA526
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Weather Briefing Transcript: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Air Traffic Control Transcript (FAA): Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 26, 2012, about 1118 eastern daylight time, a Beech B24R Sierra, N9200S, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees and terrain during a forced landing after a reported loss of engine power near Dayton, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that originated from Wilmington International Airport (ILM), Wilmington, North Carolina, at 0903. The flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. At 0831 the morning of the accident, the pilot phoned the Raleigh Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) and obtained a preflight weather briefing. During the briefing, he was advised multiple times that visual flight rules (VFR) flight was not recommended due to existing and forecast IMC along his intended route of flight. The pilot departed at 0903 without filing a flight plan. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), at 1109, the pilot contacted air traffic control, and advised that he was climbing the airplane from 9,000 to 10,500 feet. At 1111, the pilot declared an emergency, advised he had "lost" the engine, and stated that he was "VFR on top." The controller initially provided vectors to Bridgewater Airpark (VBW), Bridgewater, Virginia, and then to Frank Field (VA52), Harrisonburg, Virginia. He attempted to orient the pilot to the airplane's position relative to the two airports, so that he could acquire the airports visually, but at 1112, the pilot advised
Probable cause
The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the noninstrument-rated pilot's decision to attempt a visual flight rules flight in instrument meteorological conditions over mountainous terrain.
More accidents in VA
- Boeing 757-200, Sep 11, 2001
- Beech B99, Sep 23, 1985
- Beech 65, Sep 10, 1995
- Beech 200, Oct 24, 2004
- Piper PA-31-310, Nov 14, 1982
Browse: Virginia · 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.
