Cessna 320 N19AS

Summary

On 1 July 2020 at about 18:00 local time, a Cessna 320 registered N19AS was involved in an accident near Round Rock, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 July 2020 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Round Rock, Texas, United States

Coordinates

30.5586, -97.7044

Aircraft

Cessna 320

Registration

N19AS

Category

Airplane

Year built

1961

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lago Vista → Lago Vista

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20LA256

1 person died.

Improper maintenance that led to a loss of engine power due to a failed left engine magneto, the pilot’s improper application of single engine emergency procedures, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane which resulted in a collision with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed in the multi-engine airplane and proceeded east. The airplane turned north and impacted trees about 30 nm west of the last flight track data. A postimpact fire ensued and the wreckage was destroyed. According to a witness driving near the accident site, the airplane flew low, and she thought the airplane was going to land. Another witness driving near the accident site, observed the airplane flying “erratically” with flames emitting from the left engine, but did not remember seeing smoke in the sky or smoke emitting from the airplane. Another witness near the accident site, reported that the airplane was "sputtering" and "popping" as it flew over his home. Postaccident examination showed that the airplane descended through trees and was highly fragmented and mostly consumed by fire. Both propellers had indications consistent with low amounts of rotational energy. The right engine propeller blades were at a blade angle near feather pitch at impact and the left engine propeller blades appeared to be fully feathered. All engine control levers were found full forward except the left engine propeller lever, which was full aft. Additional examination revealed the right magneto installed on the left engine would not rotate due to a failed bearing. The failure signatures were indicative of a loss of lubrication in the bearing. It is likely the airplane experienced at least a partial loss of engine power in the left engine as a result. The evidence is consistent with the pilot attempting to shut down the left engine due to the failed magneto and failing to maintain single-engine flight resulting in an impact with trees and terrain. Both engine exhaust systems were in an unairworthy condition due to very thin metal, holes, cracks, and signs of oxidative degradation. Exhaust leaks can result in an inflight fire. However, the post-impact fire prevented determination if an inflight fire occurred and the witness testimony of flames coming from the engine could not be verified.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.