Cessna 414 accident near Destin, FL

On August 3, 2016, a Cessna 414 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Destin, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

August 3, 2016

Place

Destin, FL

Aircraft

Cessna 414 · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

30.374°N, 86.471°W

NTSB ID

20160803X75916

Official records · ERA16FA279

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

Air traffic control records

• Partial Transcription of Radio Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• Controller Statements: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn August 2, 2016, about 2025 central daylight time, a Cessna 414A, N2735A, was destroyed when it impacted the Gulf of Mexico shortly after takeoff from Destin Executive Airport (DTS), Destin, Florida. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was privately owned and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which was destined for Abbeville Chris Crusta Memorial Airport (IYA), Abbeville, Louisiana. Earlier on the day of the accident, the pilot flew one of the co-owners and several other individuals from IYA to DTS, where they landed between 1430 and 1440. Personnel at a fixed base operator (FBO) at DTS reported that, after arriving at DTS, the pilot told them he was going to the pilot's lounge to rest. Later, he borrowed a crew car from the FBO and obtained food, then returned to the FBO. At 2001, one of the pilot's sons spoke with his father; the conversation lasted about 6 minutes. Video from the FBO recorded the pilot walking to the airplane before departing on the accident flight. At 2014, the navigation and strobe lights illuminated briefly, consistent with engine start. Air traffic control information showed that the pilot contacted Eglin Clearance Delivery to obtain his IFR clearance at 2018:26. The controller provided the clearance and transponder code, which the pilot correctly read back; the controller subsequently instructed the pilot to hold for release. The a

Probable cause

The pilot's loss of control due to spatial disorientation shortly after takeoff, while maneuvering over water during dark night conditions.

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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.