Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Melrose, Florida 32666
Friday, February 17, 1989 17:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT INITIATED A CROSSCOUNTRY FLIGHT AND ENCOUNTERED IMC CONDITIONS NEAR HIS DESTINATION. HE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED AN IFR CLEARANCE. THE PILOT CONSISTENTLY DID NOT RESPOND TO ATC INSTRUCTIONS. THE FINAL ATC VECTOR TO INTERCEPT THE LOCALIZER COURSE REQUIRED A 220 DEGREE RIGHT TURN WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A 30 DEGREE ANGLE OF INTERCEPT. DURING THE TURN AIRCRAFT CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A FARM YARD. WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING STRONG ENGINE SOUNDS PRIOR TO IMPACT. EXAM OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. EXAM OF THE PROPS SHOWED IMPACT DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH CRUISE POWER. THE WRECKAGE EXAM INDICATED THE GEAR AND FLAPS IN THE UP AND RETRACTED POSITION. NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO THE PILOT'S RECENCY OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE OR INSTRUMENT COMPETENCY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPLY PROMPTLY WITH ATC INSTRUCTIONS AND HIS LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/17/1989
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MELROSE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32666
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 2
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1650 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 95
Weather Observation Facility ID GNV
Elevation of weather observation facility 152
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 600
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) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 375
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 17 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1812
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38754
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:28PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3488Q
NTSB Number MIA89FA088
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 320E
Aircraft Series Identifier 320E
Aircraft Serial Number 0088
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DONALD MURDOCK
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2580 NE 1251 ST.
Aircraft Owner City OTTAWA
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 61350
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MKY
Departure City MARCO ISLAND
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GNU
Destination City GAINESVILLE
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --