Convair CV-580 CFICA

Summary

On 19 September 1991 at about 01:50 local time, a Convair CV-580 registered CFICA, operated by Canair Cargo Ltd, was involved in an accident near Belvedere Ctr, Vermont, 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.

Date

19 September 1991 at 01:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Belvedere Ctr, Vermont, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Convair CV-580

Registration

CFICA

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Canair Cargo Ltd

Operating rule

Part 129: Foreign

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Moncton, N.b. → Hamilton, Ont

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC91FA239

2 people died.

FAILURE OF THE FIRST OFFICER (CO-PILOT) TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER BECOMING SPATIALLY DISORIENTED, AND HIS EXCEEDING THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LACK OF TWO PILOTS IN THE COCKPIT, DARKNESS, AND INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) AT FLIGHT ALTITUDE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRPLANE WAS CRUISING IN NIGHT INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHEN IT ENTERED A LEFT TURN AND EXCEEDED THE DESIGN AIRFRAME LIMITS. THE AIRPLANE BROKE UP IN THE DESCENT DUE TO AERODYNAMIC FORCES AND WAS DESTROYED.. THE OUTBOARD WING PANELS HAD FAILED DOWNWARD AND CENTER WING SECTION SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE. THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND ELEVATORS HAD FAILED DOWN AND AFT. THE CAPTAIN WAS FOUND OUT OF THE COCKPIT WITH NO EVIDENCE OF HIM BEING IN THE SEAT AT IMPACT A HUMAN FACTORS STUDY FOUND THE AIRCRAFT'S LAST MINUTE OF FLIGHT MATCHED A PROFILE OF A PILOT EXPERIENCING SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.