Beechcraft 58TC N6588S
26 December 1991 · Bluffton, South Carolina, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 26 December 1991 at about 22:37 local time, a Beechcraft 58TC registered N6588S, operated by Weinhold, Donald L., was involved in an accident near Bluffton, South Carolina, United States. 5 people were on board and 5 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 22:37
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Bluffton, South Carolina, United States
- Coordinates
- 32.2297, -80.8596
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft 58TC
- Registration
- N6588S
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Weinhold, Donald L.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Salisbury → Hilton Head Is.
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Dusk
- NTSB number
- ATL92FA031
People
5 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM CONTROLLABLE AIRSPEED AFTER A REPORTED ENGINE POWER LOSS, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS THE LOSS OF POWER ON THE LEFT ENGINE. THE REASON FOR THE LEFT ENGINE POWER LOSS COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT HAD INITIATED A DIVERT TO ANOTHER AIRPORT AFTER HEARING REPORTS OF LOW VISIBILITIY AT HIS DESTINATION. HE REPORTED THAT HE HAD NO APPROACH PLATES FOR HIS DIVERT FIELD. WHILE BEING RADAR VECTORED AT ABOUT 3,000 FEET AGL, HE REPORTED 'HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS.' ABOUT 1 MINUTE LATER, HE REPORTED 'GOING DOWN'. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN WOODED TERRAIN AND BURNED. THE DESCENT ANGLE THROUGH THE TREES WAS ABOUT 30 DEGREES. RADAR DATA INDICATES THAT THE AIRCRAFT RAPIDLY LOST ABOUT 30 KNOTS PRIOR TO THE PILOT'S LAST RADIO CALL, FOLLOWED BY A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE LEFT PROPELLER WAS NEAR THE FEATHERED POSITION AT IMPACT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF POWER ON THE RIGHT ENGINE AT IMPACT. TEARDOWNS OF BOTH ENGINES AND THEIR COMPONENTS FAILED TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTED ENGINE PROBLEM.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft 58 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 May 1991 | Beechcraft 58P | Wichita, Kansas, United States | Airparts Company, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 8 Feb 1991 | Beechcraft 58 | St. Thomas | Heath, Alfred O | No injuries | - |
| 20 Dec 1991 | Beechcraft 58P | Flagstaff, Arizona, United States | D. Kaufman | Fatal | 2 |
| 5 Mar 1991 | Beechcraft 58 | Whites City, New Mexico, United States | Stipp, Robert J. | Fatal | 2 |
| 17 Aug 1991 | Beechcraft 58TC | Kalispell, Montana, United States | Orin O. Terry | No injuries | - |
| 16 Aug 1991 | Beechcraft 58 | Brookhaven, New York, United States | John G. Lauchner | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jan 1991 | Mooney M20F | Pageland, South Carolina, United States | Blackwell, Billy | Fatal | 2 |
| 27 May 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Surf Side Beach, South Carolina, United States | Riggott, Robert C. & Lois J. | Fatal | 2 |
| 21 Jun 1991 | Beechcraft 95-B55 | Irmo, South Carolina, United States | Cubco, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 27 Mar 1991 | Cessna 182D | Greer, South Carolina, United States | Blair, David M. and Frances R. | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Apr 1991 | Cessna 177RG | Saluda, South Carolina, United States | Southeast Helicopters, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 May 1991 | Schweizer 269C | Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States | Dooley Helicopters, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |