Wicks Air Center HORNET N651WA

Summary

On 7 November 2009 at about 14:00 local time, a Wicks Air Center HORNET registered N651WA was involved in an accident near Bonham, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 November 2009 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Bonham, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Jones Field Airport (F00)

Coordinates

33.6203, -96.1722

Aircraft

Wicks Air Center HORNET

Registration

N651WA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bonham → Bonham

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN10LA041

2 people died.

The pilot's loss of control shortly after takeoff due to spatial disorientation in fog and/or low-level clouds.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-instrument rated pilot departed the airport and was observed flying less than 100 feet above ground level. The airplane then made a left turn back toward the airport and continued into fog or a low cloud layer. It subsequently spiraled nose-down into the ground and there was an immediate postimpact fire followed by an explosion. A postaccident examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The weather in the area at the time of the accident was reported by witnesses as low clouds and poor visibility in fog. Federal Aviation Administration guidance indicates that spatial disorientation can occur when there is no natural horizon or surface reference, such as a night flight in sparsely populated areas similar to that of the accident area and conditions. Based on the wreckage and the visual reference conditions present at the time of the accident it is likely that the pilot experienced spatial disorientation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.