Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bellville, Ohio 44813
Wednesday, December 20, 1995 20:50 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was cruising at 8,000 feet in night, IMC conditions, when the pilot requested and received clearance to climb to 10,000 feet. Radar data showed the airplane leveled off at 10,000 feet. Shortly thereafter, it made an abrupt right turn and descended through 8,300 feet, then radar contact was lost. Witnesses near the accident site heard and/or saw the airplane before it crashed. According to them, the engines revved as if the airplane went into a dive or the pilot 'throttled up.' Also, the airplane was reported to be maneuvering before it crashed. Wreckage was located in an open field, scattered over a distance of 550 feet. The horizontal stabilizers and elevators were found near the western end of the wreckage path, 184 feet west of the main impact crater. The left and right wing were found 60 and 101 feet east of the main crater, respectively. Also, the engines had separated from the main wreckage and were found in two craters about 50 feet apart. Examination revealed the horizontal stabilizers had failed down and aft, and the wings had failed downward. The airspeed indicator was found with a reading of over 260 knots. The airplane's never exceed speed was 227 KCAS. About 12 miles north of the accident site, the weather was in part: 2400 feet overcast with 7 miles visibility; witnesses reported that snow was falling. The pilot of another aircraft reported light icing conditions between 4,000 and 11,500 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's in-flight loss of aircraft control for undetermined reason(s), which resulted in the airplane exceeding its design stress limitations and an in-flight breakup.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/20/1995
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2050
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City BELLVILLE
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 44813
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2045 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID MFD
Elevation of weather observation facility 1297
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 2400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2028
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 20 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:48PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1269G
NTSB Number BFO96FA032
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 310R
Aircraft Series Identifier 310R
Aircraft Serial Number 310R0689
Certified Max Gross Weight 5300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 4 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 3248
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SKY HARBOR AIR SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 14424
Aircraft Owner City OMAHA
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 68119
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PHL
Departure City PHILADELPHIA
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1815
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FTW
Destination City FORT WAYNE
Destination State IN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent - uncontrolled
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --