Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Carrabelle, Florida 32322
Saturday, October 5, 1991 13:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE NON INSTRUMENT-RATED PILOT DEPARTED ON A VFR CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT WITHOUT OBTAINING A WEATHER BRIEFING. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE REQUIRED VFR DAY FLIGHT EQUIPMENT. THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A THUNDERSTORM. WHILE MANEUVERING THE AIRPLANE, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL FOR FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VSO). THIS RESULTED IN STALL/SPIN, AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE NON INSTRUMENT-RATED PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S DECISION TO CONTINUE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (THUNDERSTORM) AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VSO) WHILE MANEUVERING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING AND TO ENSURE THAT REQUIRED VFR DAY FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS WERE INSTALLED.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/5/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1315
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CARRABELLE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32322
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 10
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1250 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID AQQ
Elevation of weather observation facility 20
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 25
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1787
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45665
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:48AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3673X
NTSB Number MIA92FA004
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AERO COMMANDER
Aircraft Model 100
Aircraft Series Identifier 100
Aircraft Serial Number 319
Certified Max Gross Weight 2250
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 27 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 207
Airframe Hours 2799
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES D. FRAME
Aircraft Owner Street Address R.R. 1 BOX 87
Aircraft Owner City SOUTH PITTSBURG
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37381
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RONALD R. CHILTON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2158 BOLD ST. NE
Operator City DACULA
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30211
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code F47
Departure City ST. JORGE ISL.
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 2J9
Destination City QUINCY
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --