Beechcraft 58 N142DR

Summary

On 4 September 2022 at about 15:40 local time, a Beechcraft 58 registered N142DR was involved in an accident near Galt, California, 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

4 September 2022 at 15:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Galt, California, United States

Coordinates

38.3046, -121.3516

Aircraft

Beechcraft 58

Registration

N142DR

Category

Airplane

Year built

1985

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tracy → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR22FA332

2 people died.

The certified flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the airplane and inadequate supervision of the flight, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin from which he could not recover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot under instruction and the certified flight instructor (CFI) departed in the multi-engine airplane to conduct training. Radar data indicated that they proceeded to multiple airports and performed traffic pattern work including takeoff and landings. After departing the last airport, they performed two 360° turns and one power off stall task. The airplane again slowed and recorded engine data indicated that, while the critical engine’s speed was reduced, the other engine’s speed was increased, consistent with performing a Vmc demonstration. During a Vmc demonstration, power is reduced on the critical engine (left) and the airplane is recovered before loss of directional control or stall. As the airspeed decreased, the airplane entered a rapid descent with a continuous left-hand turn that was observed by witnesses as it was spinning, not nose down, with a flat attitude until water impact. Impact signatures were consistent with a slightly nose-low, near-flat attitude. Postaccident examination of the engines and airframe did not reveal evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Positive identification of who was on the controls during the Vmc demonstration could not be determined given the available evidence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.