Beechcraft 35C33 N5827S

Summary

On 14 July 2010 at about 02:30 local time, a Beechcraft 35C33 registered N5827S, operated by Casey Brinegar, was involved in an accident near Tolar, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 July 2010 at 02:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Tolar, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

None (None)

Coordinates

32.3406, -97.9044

Aircraft

Beechcraft 35C33

Registration

N5827S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Casey Brinegar

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Stephenville → Arlington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CEN10FA392

3 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering at night over a rural area, due to spatial disorientation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and the two passengers departed on a cross country flight on a dark, moonless night over a rural area. Approximately 10 minutes after they departed, the airplane was observed in a descending spiral over a hay field. The last 50 seconds of recorded GPS data and the witness's description of the maneuvers before the crash, were consistent with the pilot experiencing a vestibular illusion, which resulted in a spiral from which he was unable to recover. Although toxicology testing detected very low levels of a marijuana metabolite in the blood, it was consistent only with use of the substance in the days or weeks preceding the accident, and not suggestive of impairment at the time of the accident. A postaccident examination of the airplane and the engine revealed no preimpact mechanical deficiencies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.