Beechcraft 58TC N200DL

Summary

On 27 March 1994 at about 19:55 local time, a Beechcraft 58TC registered N200DL, operated by Callahan, Joel T., was involved in an accident near Gulf Shores, Alabama, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 March 1994 at 19:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Gulf Shores, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Jack Edwards (AL15)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Beechcraft 58TC

Registration

N200DL

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Callahan, Joel T.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Meridian

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL94FA071

1 person died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING THE BASE TURN. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT, HIGH WINDS WITH GUSTS AT THE AIRPORT, AND THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION DUE TO THE OPEN BAGGAGE DOOR.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED CHECKING THE SECURITY OF THE NOSE BAGGAGE DOOR DURING HIS INITIAL PREFLIGHT, BUT SUSPECTS THAT HIS WIFE MAY HAVE OPENED THE DOOR WHILE HE WAS PARKING HIS CAR. DURING TAKEOFF ON RWY 17, AT 50 TO 100 FT AGL, THE NOSE DOOR CAME OPEN. HE STATED THAT THE LEFT WING TRIED TO DROP, AND HE CORRECTED WITH OPPOSITE AILERON AND RUDDER IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLOSE THE DOOR. HE LEFT THE GEAR EXTENDED. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 27. HE ESTIMATED THE SURFACE WINDS TO BE OUT OF THE SOUTH AT 25 TO 35 KTS, WITH GUSTS. HE REPORTED THAT HE LOST SPEED IN THE BASE TURN, AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A LEFT WING LOW, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN AN UPRIGHT ATTITUDE AND BURNED. AN INSPECTION OF THE NOSE DOOR REVEALED THAT THE TWO LATCHES WERE OPEN, AS WAS THE KEY LOCK. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT REACHED A STEEP BANK ANGLE PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE MANUFACTURER PERFORMED FLIGHT TESTS ON A SIMILAR AIRCRAFT WITH THE NOSE DOOR OPEN, AND FOUND NO AIRCRAFT CONTROL DEGRADATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.