Gruber Beelzabub accident near Rochester, WA
On September 14, 2018, a Gruber Beelzabub (airplane) was involved in an accident near Rochester, WA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 14, 2018
- Place
- Rochester, WA
- Aircraft
- Gruber Beelzabub · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 46.713°N, 122.946°W
- NTSB ID
- 20180914X82828
Official records · WPR18FA261
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn September 14, 2018, about 1120 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Gruber Beelzabub airplane, N382T, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rochester, Washington. The pilot/owner and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane departed Flying B Airport (8WA0), Rainier, Washington, at an undetermined time, and no flight plan had been filed. A witness reported observing the airplane about 500 ft above ground level just east of their job site. The airplane circled around a single tree, leveled off, and began a descent. The airplane was in a wings-level attitude when the left wing struck a 60–70 ft tall tree. The witness reported that the engine was running. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONThe accident area was located on a hilltop whose trees were being cleared. The trees in the area where the airplane came to rest, were between 30-50 ft tall and were downslope from the single tree that the airplane impacted. The tree impacted was about 60-70 ft tall and about 500 feet from the main wreckage. The airplane came to rest in a nose-down attitude with the empennage against a tree. The left wing and left horizontal stabilizer separated from the airframe; a portion of the left wing came to rest in a tree about 500 ft from the main wreckage. A landing gear wheel separated and was located on the road adjacent to the forested area. The fuel tank had been breached and the smell of fuel was present along with damaged foliage. The tailw
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree while maneuvering at a low altitude.
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Browse: Washington
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
