ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 279796
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Tuesday 28 June 2022 |
| Time: | 07:40 LT |
| Type: |  Beechcraft V35B Bonanza |
| Owner/operator: | |
| Registration: | N444PM |
| MSN: | D-9905 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1976 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2484 hours |
| Engine model: | Continental IO-520-BA |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Pearson Field (VOU/KVUO), Vancouver, WA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Vancouver, WA |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot departed and about 3 minutes into the flight he elected to return to his departure airport due to weather. The airplane entered the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern and made his final radio transmission over the airport common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). When abeam the runway threshold the pilot then made an early turn onto base leg of the traffic pattern for reasons that could not be determined, and the airplane descended towards the runway. As the airplane turned onto final approach, just over the runway threshold, it made a right turn about 90° and impacted the ground. The airplane was destroyed by postcrash fire.
Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that could have precluded normal operation. The weather was not likely a factor in the accident as reports indicated few clouds and visibility was variable but appeared clear in surveillance video. The pilot's flight experience in the accident airplane make/model are unknown, but he was familiar with the traffic pattern at the airport where the accident occurred.
The pilot's autopsy report showed that he had an increased risk of a sudden incapacitating event due to coronary artery disease. However, a family member noted that the pilot was in good health and showed no indications of distress the morning of the accident flight. In addition, the pilot exhibited no medical concerns during his communications with air traffic control, which ceased about 18 seconds before the accident. Video and radar evidence also indicated the pilot flew a stabilized descent while on the base leg of the traffic pattern, which also suggests he was likely not in distress. In this context, no evidence suggests that a medical anomaly contributed to the accident.
As the pilot turned onto final approach, he commanded a steep turn to align the airplane with the runway, which likely resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, an accelerated stall, and impact with terrain. The pilot had an opportunity to go-around after the improper base leg entry, thus his decision to continue the approach following the base leg turn contributed to the accident.
Probable Cause: The pilot's decision to execute a steep turn to final approach, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and an accelerated stall. Contributing to the accident was the improper positioning on base leg and the pilot's subsequent decision to continue the approach.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB WPR22FA235
FAA register: https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=444PM
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N444PM/history/20220628/1423Z/KVUO/KVUO
Location
Media:
One person died in the crash at Pearson Field. @VancouverPDUSA now confirming this. #fox12Oregon pic.twitter.com/l5AgkOg4ye
— Marilyn Deutsch (@marilyndeutsch) June 28, 2022
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 28-Jun-2022 16:56 | Captain Adam | Added |
| 28-Jun-2022 17:24 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Damage, Narrative] |
| 28-Jun-2022 19:08 | gerard57 | Updated [Country, Embed code] |
| 29-Jun-2022 01:03 | johnwg | Updated [Time, Source, Narrative] |
| 29-Jun-2022 01:04 | johnwg | Updated [Category] |
| 29-Jun-2022 01:45 | RobertMB | Updated [Narrative] |
| 30-Jun-2022 01:52 | johnwg | Updated [Narrative] |
| 07-Jul-2022 13:46 | Anon. | Updated [Narrative] |
| 13-Jul-2022 00:44 | Captain Adam | Updated [Time, Location, Source, Narrative, Category] |
| 28-Apr-2024 09:46 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation