Beechcraft C23 N9304S

Summary

On 29 December 1991 at about 18:30 local time, a Beechcraft C23 registered N9304S, operated by Henson, Harold V, was involved in an accident near Lineville, Alabama, 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

29 December 1991 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Lineville, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

33.3091, -85.7509

Aircraft

Beechcraft C23

Registration

N9304S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Henson, Harold V

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gadsden → Tampa

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL92FA033

2 people died.

THE PILOT CONTINUED VFR INTO IMC CONDITIONS WHERE HE COLLIDED WITH TREES AND TERRAIN. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE: LOW CLOUDS, OBSCURED TERRAIN, AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PRELFLIGHT PLANNING.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PILOT CALLED THE FSS TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE LOCAL AND DESTINATION WEATHER, BUT DID NOT REQUEST OR RECEIVE A WEATHER BRIEFING. WHEN TOLD THAT THE WEATHER WOULD REMAIN MARGINAL FOR VFR UNTIL LATER IN THE DAY, HE STATED THAT HE WOULD CALL BACK LATER. HE DID NOT CALL BACK AND DEPARTED THE AIRPORT WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON CHEAHA MOUNTAIN IN A NEAR LEVEL FLIGHT ATTITUDE AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 1,700 FEET. THE MOUNTAIN WAS REPORTED TO BE OBSCURED IN CLOUDS THROUGHOUT THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT WITH VISIBILITIES REPORTED TO BE FROM ZERO TO 50 FEET IN LIGHT DRIZZLE AND FOG. INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.