Cessna 550 N320JT

Summary

On 18 July 2019 at about 01:44 local time, a Cessna 550 registered N320JT was involved in an accident near Mesquite, Nevada, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 July 2019 at 01:44

Classification

Accident

Location

Mesquite, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Mesquite (67L)

Coordinates

36.8325, -114.0572

Aircraft

Cessna 550

Registration

N320JT

Category

Airplane

Year built

1981

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pasco → Las Vegas

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR19TA193

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's operation of the airplane while intoxicated, which resulted in a loss of airplane control on landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While approaching class B airspace, the airline transport pilot was in communication with a controller who later stated that the pilot's speech was slurred, and the controller repeatedly asked if the oxygen system on the airplane was working properly. As the airplane approached a nearby airport, about 85 miles from his destination airport, the pilot stated he had the airport in sight and repeatedly requested a visual approach. The controller instructed the pilot to continue his flight to his destination, in a southwest direction. As the controller attempted to maintain communications, the pilot dropped off radar shortly after passing the nearby airport and subsequently landed at the nearby airport, which was not his destination airport. According to a surveillance video and impact marks on the runway, the airplane landed hard about halfway down the runway and slid to a stop on the left side of the runway. The airplane fuselage and wings were mostly consumed by postimpact fire. After authorities arrived onsite, the pilot was arrested for operating an aircraft under the influence of alcohol. The pilot was found to have a blood alcohol level of .288, which likely contributed to the pilot landing at the incorrect airport and his subsequent loss of airplane control during landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.