Cessna 206H N9562L

Summary

On 17 December 2003 at about 10:02 local time, a Cessna 206H registered N9562L, operated by Jaime Fernando Beingolea, was involved in an accident near Sanford, North Carolina, United States. 5 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured, 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 December 2003 at 10:02

Classification

Accident

Location

Sanford, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Sanford Lee County Regional (KTTA)

Coordinates

35.5864, -79.1039

Aircraft

Cessna 206H

Registration

N9562L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Jaime Fernando Beingolea

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sanford → Manteo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ATL04FA056

1 person died.

The pilot's loss of control of the airplane during takeoff initial climb due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in an inflight collision with trees and the ground. Factors were the dark night, fog, and low ceilings.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The passengers described the weather as "pitch black" with fog and mist. The flight was departing runway 3, and, according to one passenger, the airplane lifted off the runway, climbed to approximately 20 to 30 feet, and began a banking turn to the left. The passenger then heard bangs or thumping noises. Another passenger estimated the airplane was airborne for about 30 seconds to a minute, and she thought maybe the airplane had turned left and was laying on the ground. Examination of the accident site revealed the main wreckage was located a wooded area approximately 1,200 feet from the left side of runway 3 and approximately 4,500 feet from the runway 3 threshold. Wreckage debris and a swath of freshly broken trees extended 240 feet. Post-accident examination of components revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction was observed. The spouse of the pilot estimated the pilot went to sleep around 2330 the night before the flight. She did not know what time he awoke in the morning. According to air traffic control records, the pilot telephoned the Raleigh Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) at 0313 the morning of the flight. The passengers stated that the pilot had the airplane ready to go when they each arrived at the airport around 0445.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.