Beechcraft BE-58 N5TV

Summary

On 24 December 2002 at about 15:54 local time, a Beechcraft BE-58 registered N5TV was involved in an accident near Egypt, Arkansas, 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

24 December 2002 at 15:54

Classification

Accident

Location

Egypt, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Walnut Ridge Regional (ARG)

Coordinates

35.8617, -90.9683

Aircraft

Beechcraft BE-58

Registration

N5TV

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ash Flat → Jonesboro

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW03FA064

1 person died.

The pilot's inadvertent flight into severe icing conditions. A contributing factor was the pilot's inadequate preflight planning.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight for which the instrument rated commercial pilot limited his weather briefing, filed an IFR flight plan, and received an ATC clearance. Approximately 13 minutes after departure, the 1,027-hour pilot, sole occupant, reported the airplane was accumulating ice, requested and was cleared to descend the airplane from 5,000 to 4,000 feet msl. Subsequently, the pilot requested and was cleared to descend to 3,000 feet, and proceed direct to the initial approach fix for the RNAV(GPS) 36 non-precision approach for landing at an alternate airport. No distress call or additional ATC communications with the pilot were recorded. The airplane impacted trees and terrain approximately 17 nautical miles south of the airport. Tree deformation, ground scars, and craters, were consistent with a near vertical impact. The NTSB meteorological study revealed that instrument meteorological conditions with low ceilings, reduced visibility, light rain, mist, and drizzle prevailed at the departure airport and along the flight route. The low-level vertical temperature profile in the accident area was likely the following; 1 degree Celsius at the surface, minus 3 degrees at 3,000 feet, freezing level at 5,000 feet, and above freezing at 7,000-8,000 feet. SLD was likely present in the accident area at and below 5,00 feet and produced moderate to severe clear icing on the airframe in the minutes prior to the accident. The investigation revealed the airplane was equipped with alcohol propellers; however, the impact and thermal destruction precluded a determination of the operational status of the anti-ice system. Both propellers exhibited physical evidence (blade bending and twisting) consistent with high power ( at or near the low pitch range) and rotation (symmetrical energy) at impact. No evidence of an in-flight mechanical or flight control malfunction was found that would have rendered the airplane uncontrollable prior to the impact. GPS was not approved for IFR. After the accident, the RNAV(GPS) 36 approach was flight checked by the FAA, and all components were found to be operating within prescribed tolerances.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.