Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grand Meadow, Minnesota 55936
Friday, February 8, 2008 13:09 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airline transport pilot had purchased the vintage airplane earlier in the day and was en route to attend a family event later that afternoon. Track data for the accident flight indicated that the airplane was flying between 300 and 600 feet above ground level (agl) when it encountered a wind farm with several 400-foot-tall wind turbines. The data showed that the airplane made a 90-degree course change, which was followed by a figure-8 turn at varying altitudes between 800 and 1,500 feet agl. The airplane impacted terrain in a nose-low, left-wing-down attitude. The 300-foot-long debris path and fragmentation of the airplane were consistent with a high-speed impact. Examination of the airframe, engine, and propeller revealed no anomalies that could be associated with a preimpact failure or malfunction. The intended route of flight was into an area of extensive instrument weather conditions consisting of low ceilings and reduced visibility. Weather stations near the accident site reported 400- to 600-foot agl overcast ceilings and visibilities of 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 miles in mist. During the accident flight, there were active flight advisories for instrument flight rules (IFR) flight and moderate icing conditions. The pilot had obtained three weather briefings before departing on the accident flight, all of which forecasted that IFR conditions would exist along the planned route. The airplane was not equipped for instrument flight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's continued visual flight into an area of known instrument meteorological conditions in an airplane not equipped for instrument flight, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering at low altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/8/2008
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1309
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Grand Meadow
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55936
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 434011N
Event Location Longitude 0923618W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1316 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID KAUM
Elevation of weather observation facility 1234
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1.5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.63
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 25048
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Feb 9 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 18 2009 9:11AM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Federal Aviation Administration - Minneapolis FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3537V
NTSB Number CHI08LA080
Missing Aircraft Indicator Y
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 140
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 14809
Certified Max Gross Weight 1450
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 24 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2.6
Airframe Hours 1970.6
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Phillip Ray Edgington
Aircraft Owner Street Address 10862 Gregory Road
Aircraft Owner City Sanger
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76266
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Phillip Ray Edgington
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 10862 Gregory Road
Operator City Sanger
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 76266
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 KRNH
Departure City New Richmond
Departure State WI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1211
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KOOA
Destination City Oskaloosa
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 16 2009 4:59PM
User who most recently changed record foxt
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --