Beechcraft 58P N27L

Summary

On 27 March 1991 at about 23:05 local time, a Beechcraft 58P registered N27L, operated by Paul D. Dempsey, was involved in an accident near Vail, Arizona, 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

27 March 1991 at 23:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Vail, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

31.9492, -110.6898

Aircraft

Beechcraft 58P

Registration

N27L

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Paul D. Dempsey

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tucson → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX91FA143

2 people died.

THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE OWNER/PILOT HAD PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE IN MINNESOTA, AND HAD HIRED AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT WITH 1000 HOURS IN TYPE TO FLY BACK TO ARIZONA WITH HIM, AND THEN TO FLY EACH DAY WITH HIM UNTIL HE BECAME QUALIFIED AND PROFICIENT IN THE AIRPLANE. RADAR TRACKING DATA INDICATED A ROUTE TO THE EAST PRACTICE AREA AFTER DEPARTURE WHERE THE AIRPLANE MANEUVERED BETWEEN 5400 AND 7300 FEET MSL. TERRAIN ELEVATION IN THE AREA IS ABOUT 3000 FEET MSL. RADAR DATA WAS RECORDED FOR 47 MINUTES. AT A POINT WHERE GROUND SPEED WAS INDICATED TO BE 72 KNOTS, THE AIRPLANE STARTED A RAPID DESCENT AND WAS LOST FROM RADAR AT 4100 FEET MSL. WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE AIRPLANE SPINNING CLOCKWISE IN THE PRACTICE AREA. THE LANDING GEAR AND FLAPS WERE FOUND IN THE DOWN POSITION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.