Beechcraft 58 N4VG

Summary

On 26 November 1993 at about 19:30 local time, a Beechcraft 58 registered N4VG, operated by Vader Air, Inc, was involved in an accident near Stowe, Vermont, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 November 1993 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Stowe, Vermont, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Beechcraft 58

Registration

N4VG

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Vader Air, Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Schenectedy → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO94LA018

1 person was seriously injured.

THE PILOT DID NOT FOLLOW THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE AFTER LOSS OF POWER IN THE RIGHT ENGINE, BY FAILING TO FEATHER THE RIGHT ENGINE AND FAILING TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM SINGLE-ENGINE CONTROL SPEED. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADHERE TO THE CAUTIONS CONCERNING OPERATION OF THE ENGINES DURING DESCENT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A PASSENGER REPORTED THAT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 6 MI FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT AT 6000' MSL, THE PILOT BEGAN A DESCENT BY REDUCING THE POWER TO IDLE, PLACING THE PROPELLERS TO FULL FORWARD (HIGH RPM), LOWERING THE LANDING GEAR, EXTENDING THE FLAPS, & SLOWING TO 110 KNOTS. WHEN THE AIRPLANE WENT BELOW THE INTENDED APPROACH PATH ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT APPLIED POWER, BUT THE RIGHT ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE YAWED 80 TO 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. HE SAID A STALL WAS EMINENT, SO HE REDUCED THE POWER & ROLLED THE WINGS LEVEL. THE PLANE STRUCK TREES & THE TERRAIN. AN EXAM DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRE-EXISTING ANOMALIES. A REVIEW OF THE AIRPLANE & ENGINE HANDBOOKS CAUTIONED AGAINST RAPID DESCENTS AT IDLE RPM TO AVOID LOW CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURES. THE ENGINE MANUAL NOTED THAT LONG DESCENTS AT LOW MANIFOLD PRESSURE COULD COOL THE ENGINE(S) EXCESSIVELY & RESULT IN UNSATISFACTORY ACCELERATION. THE PILOT DID NOT FEATHER THE RIGHT ENGINE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.