Zone

Crash of a Beechcraft 200 Super King Air on Mt Bull: 10 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 2004 at 1235 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N501RH
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Concord – Martinsville
MSN:
BB-805
YOM:
1981
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
10733
Captain / Total hours on type:
210.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2090
Copilot / Total hours on type:
121
Aircraft flight hours:
8078
Circumstances:
On October 24, 2004, about 1235 eastern daylight time (all times in this brief are eastern daylight time based on a 24-hour clock), a Beech King Air 200, N501RH, operated by Hendrick Motorsports, Inc., crashed into mountainous terrain in Stuart, Virginia, during a missed approach to Martinsville/Blue Ridge Airport (MTV), Martinsville, Virginia. The flight was transporting Hendrick Motorsports employees and others to an automobile race in Martinsville, Virginia. The two flight crewmembers and eight passengers were killed, and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed at the time of the accident.
Probable cause:
The flight crew's failure to properly execute the published instrument approach procedure, including the published missed approach procedure, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the cause of the accident was the flight crew's failure to use all available navigational aids to confirm and monitor the airplane's position during the approach.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FL near Roanoke: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1971 at 1108 LT
Registration:
N601JJ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Atlanta – Martinsville
MSN:
680-491-161
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
8000
Circumstances:
En route from Atlanta to Martinsville, while cruising under VFR mode, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling, rain and fog. In reduced visibility, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a hilly terrain located in the Catawba mountain range, some 11,8 miles northwest of Roanoke. The wreckage was found three days later. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed, among them the American Actor Audie Murphy aged 45.
Probable cause:
The pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions and attempted operations beyond his experience and ability level. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, rain and fog,
- High obstructions,
- Zero visibility,
- Entered instrument weather at an altitude too low to clear mountain.
Final Report: