Beech C24 — Las Vegas, NV, 2019

Beech C24 — Las Vegas, NV

2 fatal

Date	September 8, 2019
Location	Las Vegas, NV
Aircraft	Beech C24
Purpose of flight	Instructional
Conditions	Dusk · Visual Meteorological Cond
Phase / occurrence	Prior to flight Ground handling event
Pilot age	26
Pilot total time	Unknown
Time in type	Unknown
Fatalities	2, 2 serious

Probable cause

The pilot’s operation of the airplane over its maximum gross weight and outside of center of gravity limits at a high-density altitude, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack while maneuvering and subsequent aerodynamic stall at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the occupants’ failure to ensure the airplane’s doors were secure prior to takeoff.

NTSB findings

Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Instructor/check pilot
Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Angle of attack-Not attained/maintained
Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Aircraft capability-Maximum weight-Capability exceeded
Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Aircraft capability-Maximum weight-Related operating info
Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Temp/humidity/pressure-High density altitude-Effect on equipment

What happened

The pilot departed the runway and reported that a door had opened. After clearance to enter the traffic pattern and return to the airport, the airplane climbed to about 100 ft agl and struggled to gain altitude. The airplane turned left and subsequently entered a nose down left bank and impacted the terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage. As the airplane banked to the left, it likely experienced an aerodynamic stall.

Postaccident examination of the propeller blades revealed that the engine was likely operating near high rpm at impact, and examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot’s operating handbook indicated an open door would slipstream and may result in buffeting and that the pilot is to fly the airplane “normally.”

The occupants departed earlier the same day in the accident airplane and returned because the airplane was not being able to climb over mountains on their way to their destination. Density altitude was calculated to be 5,437 ft mean sea level at the airport. The airplane was also loaded over the maximum gross takeoff weight and exceeded the aft of the center of gravity limit for both flights.

Although the airplane was able to take off, its overweight and aft of CG limit condition and the high-density altitude increased the airplane’s stall speed and degraded its climb performance, stability, and slow-flight characteristics. When the pilot turned the airplane left to return to the airport due to the reported open door, the critical angle of attack was likely exceeded and resulted in an aerodynamic stall at low altitude.

An editorial "what led to it / how to avoid it" analysis for this accident is generated separately and will appear here.