Douglas AD-4N N2088G

Summary

On 8 March 2011 at about 23:28 local time, a Douglas AD-4N registered N2088G was involved in an accident near Twin Falls, Idaho, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 March 2011 at 23:28

Classification

Accident

Location

Twin Falls, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

42.0119, -114.3111

Aircraft

Douglas AD-4N

Registration

N2088G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wendover → Idaho Falls

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11FA156

2 people died.

The non-instrument-rated pilot’s encounter with localized instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-instrument-rated pilot was on a cross-country flight when the airplane impacted terrain. According to limited radar data, after departure the flight proceeded northwest and climbed to 6,500 feet mean sea level (msl). Only segments of the flight were visible due to the low altitude range of the radar. The flight track continued northeast to its last target at an altitude of 7,900 feet msl and about 0.25 mile from the accident site. Terrain elevation at the accident site was about 6,600 feet msl. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Ground scar analysis, impact signatures, and wreckage fragmentation patterns indicated that the airplane impacted terrain in a steep, nose-down attitude with high forward velocity. Analysis of available weather information indicated that conditions likely produced restricted visibility in the area at the time of the accident. The restricted visibility conditions would have been conducive to the development of spatial disorientation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.