This November 2007 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Beech A100. Location: Chino, Calif. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Aircraft damage: Destroyed.
What reportedly happened: The pilot, who had logged 3,133.4 hours, filed an instrument flight plan and received a clearance. The weather at the time of the accident was calm winds, a quarter mile visibility in fog and a vertical visibility of 100 feet. Shortly after takeoff the airplane made a slight turn to the left and hit the tops of 25-foot trees about a half mile from the runway. An enhanced ground proximity warning system was installed on the airplane and data extraction from the system indicated that the airplane achieved an initial positive climb profile with a slight turn to the left, then entered a descent. The airplane hit the ground, burst into flames and cartwheeled for several hundred feet before coming to rest inverted.
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain a positive climb rate during an instrument takeoff.
For more information: NTSB.gov
