Controlled Flight Into Terrain · NTSB WPR10FA305
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation A36 — Seligman, AZ
| Date | June 19, 2010 |
| Location | Seligman, AZ |
| Aircraft | Hawker Beechcraft Corporation A36 |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Night · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Enroute-cruise Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 54 |
| Pilot total time | 1,179 hrs · Experienced |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Psychological-Perception/orientation/illusio-Situational awareness-Pilot - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Dark-Effect on personnel
- Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Mountainous/hilly terrain-Not specified
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained - C
What happened
The pilot departed on a visual flight rules flight on a dark night, and family members reported that he had been drinking alcohol and was under emotional distress. Toxicological testing gave no conclusive results as to the pilot's alcohol intoxication level, if any, at the time of the accident. Radar data identified as the airplane's flight track showed a progression from east to west, with the radar targets showing a gradual descent to the altitude of the mountainous terrain in the area, and then ending in the vicinity of the accident site. Very few ground reference lights existed in the area of the accident site and the moon was in its first quarter and would not have provided any significant illumination of the terrain. The radar data was consistent with the pilot's loss of situational awareness during the dark night and the airplane gradually descending into terrain. Examination of the recovered airframe and engine components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction.