Beechcraft 76 N18562
12 September 1997 · West Lafayette, Indiana, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 12 September 1997 at about 15:20 local time, a Beechcraft 76 registered N18562 was involved in an accident near West Lafayette, Indiana, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
- Nearest airport
- Purdue University (LAF)
- Coordinates
- 40.4207, -86.9194
- Aircraft
- Beechcraft 76
- Registration
- N18562
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI97FA290
People
3 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
the inadvertent stall. A related factor was the instructor pilot's failure to ensure the elevator trim was reset for takeoff.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The flight lesson was to introduce single-engine operations to the dual student. The airplane took off, and remained in the traffic pattern, performed two touch-and-go's. The instructor pilot requested a full stop, taxied back, which was approved by the air traffic control tower (ATCT). The airplane landed and was taxied to an intersection. The ATCT cleared the airplane for takeoff and for the option. A witness on the ground said he heard the airplane 'rev up its motors, as if to takeoff; then the motors went to idle, then they revved up again and the plane left.' Several witnesses saw the airplane takeoff to the west. At approximately 100 to 150 feet above ground level, the airplane pitched up steeply and winged over to the right. The airplane nosed straight down into the ground. The airplane burst into flames on impact. Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies. The elevator trim jackscrew assembly was observed in a position equating to 10 degrees of nose up trim.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Beechcraft 76 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Aug 1997 | Beechcraft 76 | New Richmond, Wisconsin, United States | Wings, Inc | Fatal | 2 |
| 12 May 1998 | Beechcraft 76 | Frisco, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 Jul 1996 | Beechcraft 76 | Falcon, Colorado, United States | William E. Roth | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jun 1998 | Beechcraft 76 | San Martin, California, United States | Tradewinds Aviation | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 Jul 1995 | Beechcraft 76 | Wheeling, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jan 1994 | Beechcraft 76 | Avalon, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jul 1997 | Niquette PIETENPOL GN-1 | Lake Village, Indiana, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1997 | Piper PA-28R-200 | Auburn, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Aug 1997 | Taylorcraft L2A | Shelbyville, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Mar 1997 | Stinson 108 | Greenfield, Indiana, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 22 Aug 1997 | Schweizer SGS 1-26E | Zionsville, Indiana, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 Jul 1997 | Cessna 150F | Gary, Indiana, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |