Beechcraft C50 N4917B
27 August 1989 · Hagerstown, Maryland, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 27 August 1989 at about 12:38 local time, a Beechcraft C50 registered N4917B was involved in an accident near Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 12:38
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Hagerstown, Maryland, United States
- Coordinates
- 39.6300, -77.7099
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft C50
- Registration
- N4917B
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Hagerstown → Camp Springs
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- BFO89FA074
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AS A RESULT OF SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AFTER INTENTIONALLY FLYING INTO INSTRUMENT FLIGHT CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S OVER CONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY AND THE OBSCURED WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH EXISTED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT AND NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT PASSENGER WERE FLYING TO ANDREWS AFB TO ATTEND AN AIRSHOW WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. A FSS WEATHER BRIEFING WAS OBTAINED DURING WHICH THE PLT WAS INFORMED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. OBSCURED CEILING AND FOG EXISTED AT THE DEPARTURE ARPT AND OVER THE MOUNTAIN RIDGES ENROUTE. THE PLT FILED VFR AND REQUESTED A SPECIAL VFR TO GET OUT OF THE CONTROL ZONE AT THE DEPARTURE APRT. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, APRX 3 MILES FROM THE ARPT, THE ACFT DESCENDED NEAR VERTICAL AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. WITNESSES STATED THE ACFT SOUNDED 'LOUD' AS IT CROSSED OVER HEAD PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WITH EITHER THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE. THE PLT HAD RECENTLY FAILED HIS IFR FLT TEST DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH ALTITUDE AND ATTITUDE CONTROL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft C50 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Apr 1988 | Beechcraft C50 | Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 31 Jul 1991 | Beechcraft C50 | Salem, Ohio, United States | John M. Webber | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Oct 1981 | Beechcraft C50 | Goliad, Texas, United States | Patco Internat | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 May 1981 | Beechcraft C50 | Los Fresnos, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Feb 1980 | Beechcraft C50 | Manchester, New Hampshire, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 1980 | Beechcraft C50 | Florida City, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jun 1989 | Piper PA-25-235 | Preston, Maryland, United States | Air AG, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 30 Jul 1989 | Piper PA-28 | Cumberland, Maryland, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 30 Jul 1989 | Smith MINIPLANE | Cumberland, Maryland, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 May 1989 | Bell UH-1B | Oldtown, Maryland, United States | Precision Air Services, Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
| 9 Jun 1989 | Piper PA-32-300 | Myersville, Maryland, United States | M & H Aircraft Corporation Inc | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Jul 1989 | Bellanca 7KCAB | Berlin, Maryland, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |