Beechcraft 35 N1888D

Summary

On 19 May 2019 at about 21:08 local time, a Beechcraft 35 registered N1888D was involved in an accident near Melba, Idaho, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 May 2019 at 21:08

Classification

Accident

Location

Melba, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Sunrise Airpark Airport (ID40)

Coordinates

43.4231, -116.7125

Aircraft

Beechcraft 35

Registration

N1888D

Category

Airplane

Year built

1952

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Melba → Melba

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR19FA150

1 person died.

The pilot's loss of control during a low-level aerobatic maneuver, which resulted in impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment due to the effects of alcohol and antidepressant medication.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Shortly after takeoff in his airplane that was not approved for aerobatics, the airline transport pilot performed an aileron roll about 500 ft above ground level. He departed the airport traffic pattern, then returned and landed about 15 minutes later. The pilot taxied the airplane back to the runway and initiated another takeoff, during which he leveled off and accelerated the airplane about 50 ft above the ground, retracted the landing gear, and initiated a climb and an aileron roll. A witness reported that, about 135° into the maneuver, the airplane stopped rolling, then entered a descent that continued until ground impact. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicological testing of the pilot revealed impairing levels of ethanol in addition to two impairing antidepressant medications. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot's loss of control during a low-level aerobatic maneuver. It is likely that the pilot's recent alcohol ingestion and his use of antidepressant medications affected his decision making and attention and contributed to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.