Wiscasset Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wiscasset, Maine 04578
Sunday, August 6, 1989 11:38 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED WISCASSET AIRPORT, MAINE, IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AND THE DESTINATION WAS BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS. THE PILOT CONTACTED THE APPROACH CONTROL, RECEIVED AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES CLEARANCE, AND BEGAN CLIMBING TO THE ASSIGNED ALTITUDE ON A WESTERLY HEADING. THE NEW BRUNSWICK APPROACH CONTROL RADAR SHOWED THAT THE AIRPLANE REACHED A MAXIMUM ALTITUDE OF 1700 FEET MSL, WHEN IT BEGAN TO DESCEND AND REVERSE ITS DIRECTION OF FLIGHT. THE RADAR LAST SHOWED THE AIRPLANE AT AN ALTITUDE OF 400 FEET MSL AND MOVING IN A SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTION. THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND 1 MILE SOUTHWEST OF THE WISCASSET AIRPORT. THE RADIO COMMUNICATION WITH THE PILOT DID NOT INDICATE ANY DIFFICULTY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND UNCONTROLLED DESCENT DURING ATTEMPTED FLIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/6/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1138
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WISCASSET
Event State MAINE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 04578
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WISCASSET
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 9B9
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 68
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1137 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID NHZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 75
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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) 2351
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 6 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42542
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2175W
NTSB Number NYC89FA183
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model B24R
Aircraft Series Identifier B24R
Aircraft Serial Number MC267
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 11 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 31
Airframe Hours 1079
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT KNIGHT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 18 HIGH FARM RD.
Aircraft Owner City WEST HARTFORD
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06107
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City WISCASSET
Departure State ME
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MVY
Destination City BEVERLY
Destination State MA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 25
Runway Length 3400
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --