Beechcraft G35 N44T

Summary

On 8 August 1997 at about 14:45 local time, a Beechcraft G35 registered N44T was involved in an accident near Alpine, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 August 1997 at 14:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Alpine, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Alpine-Casparis Municipal (E38)

Coordinates

30.4309, -103.3294

Aircraft

Beechcraft G35

Registration

N44T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW97FA302

1 person died.

The pilot's performance of aerobatics at low altitude and his failure to maintain aircraft control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses at the airport observed the airplane make a low pass down the runway, pull up to an altitude of 'approximately 300 feet' AGL, and roll to the left. One of the witnesses reported that when the airplane reached the inverted position, its nose was pointed down. Another witness reported that the airplane completed an 'aileron roll,' began a second roll, and upon reaching the inverted position, pitched down 'just like a split S.' Both of these witnesses reported that they had observed the pilot rolling the airplane 'many' times before. Witnesses off the airport observed the airplane's right wing tip and nose simultaneously impact the ground. Examination of the airplane wreckage at the accident site, which was located about 1/4 mile from the departure end of the runway, revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical discrepancies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.