Payson, AZ, USA
N433CS
CESSNA T240
The pilot was approaching the airport for landing around dusk in visual meteorological conditions at the conclusion of a cross-country flight. Radar data depicted the airplane at 589 ft above ground level on a downwind leg for the runway at a groundspeed of 108 knots. The airplane then entered a right turn; however, rather than aligning with the runway on a final approach leg, the airplane continued the turn through 360° and continued on an extended downwind before entering another right turn. The airplane’s altitude and groundspeed was fluctuating throughout these maneuvers. Radar contact was lost near the accident site about 1 nautical mile from the end of the runway. The airplane impacted the ground in a vertical, nose-down attitude consistent with an aerodynamic stall/spin. Damage signatures indicated that the engine was producing power at the time of the accident, and examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Analysis of the radar data revealed that the radius of the airplane's final turn was about 700 ft, which would have required a bank angle of about 50° based on the airplane's approximate speed. The data are consistent with the pilot's failure to compensate for the increased load factor during the turn and a subsequent exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in a stall/spin from which the pilot was unable to recover given the airplane's low altitude.
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn October 13, 2018, about 1845 mountain standard time, a Cessna T240 airplane, N433CS, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in Payson, Arizona. The private pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Review of radar data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed a primary target, which was correlated with the accident airplane, on a right downwind leg for runway 24 about 580 ft above ground level (agl) at a groundspeed of 108 knots (kts). About 0.75 mile from the approach end of the runway on downwind, the airplane started a right turn about 658 ft agl and continued the turn through the base leg. The groundspeed decreased to 60 kts and the airplane lost about 100 ft of altitude throughout the turn. After completing a 360° turn, the airplane continued on an extended downwind before entering another right turn to the base leg about 526 ft agl and a groundspeed of 94 kts, descending to 490 ft agl and a groundspeed of 81 kts. The last radar target was located in the vicinity of the accident site. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot's medical certificate expired for all classes on July 31, 2018, but the pilot had applied for and completed the requirements for BasicMed. Review of the pilot's logbook revealed that the last entry was dated October 7, 2018. AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONThe maintenance logbooks were not located. The facility that performed the most recent maintenance, on October 1, 2018, indicated that the airplane's tachometer read 543.9 hours at that time. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATIONThe density altitude at the accident site was about 5,900 ft. AIRPORT INFORMATIONThe maintenance logbooks were not located. The facility that performed the most recent maintenance, on October 1, 2018, indicated that the airplane's tachometer read 543.9 hours at that time. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONThe accident site was located in an urban environment 1.05 nautical miles east-northeast of Payson Airport (PAN) at an elevation of 5,100 ft msl. Review of the photos taken by first responders revealed that the airplane impacted a house in a vertical attitude. The propeller, engine, and instrument panel were embedded into subfloors. Due to its inaccessibility and potentially hazardous conditions, the wreckage was not examined at the accident site. Examination of the wreckage at the recovery facility revealed that the airframe was substantially fragmented. Both wings were separated into numerous pieces; the ailerons and flaps were separated from their respective wings. The empennage was separated from the fuselage and the right elevator was separated from the empennage and remained in one piece. The rudder and the left elevator remained attached to the empennage. The firewall was separated from the cabin and the instrument panel was fragmented. The landing gear structure was partially separated from the fuselage and remained in one piece. Only partial control continuity was established due to the fragmentation of the wreckage. The engine was rotated by hand and compression was obtained on all six cylinders. Valve and gear train continuity was established throughout the engine. The top spark plug electrodes displayed coloration consistent with normal operation. The left and right magnetos produced spark at all leads. The fuel pump was operational. Fluid consistent with 100LL aviation fuel was observed in the throttle body metering unit and the fuel manifold valve. The three-blade, constant speed propeller remained attached to the crankshaft and all three propeller blades remained attached to the propeller hub; two of the blades were loose and could be rotated. One blade was bent aft and exhibited chordwise scratches on the cambered side of the blade. Another blade was twisted along the entire length and exhibited leading edge impact damage with chordwise scratches. A third blade was bent aft and displayed tip damage and multi-directional scoring on the cambered side of the blade. There was no evidence of pre-impact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions of the engine or the airframe. ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONPerformance Radar data indicated that the airplane's groundspeed as it began the final turn was 94 knots, with a turn radius of about 700 ft. Referencing Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators (NAVWEPS 00-80T-80), Figure 2.29, General Turning Performance (Constant Altitude, Steady Turn), the airplane's angle of bank would have been about 50°. The Cessna T240 Pilot Operating Handbook indicated that, with flaps retracted, the stall speed was 73 kts (calibrated airspeed). At bank angles of 30°, 45°, and 60°, the stall speed increased to 78, 87, and 103 kts, respectively. According to the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3B): At the same gross weight, airplane configuration, CG location, power setting, and environmental conditions, a given airplane consistently stalls at the same indicated airspeed provided the airplane is at +1G (i.e., steady state, unaccelerated flight). However, the airplane can also stall at a higher indicated airspeed when the airplane is subject to an acceleration greater than +1G, such as when turning, pulling up, or other abrupt changes in flightpath. Stalls encountered any time the G-load exceeds +1G are called "accelerated maneuver stalls." The accelerated stall would most frequently occur inadvertently during improperly executed turns, stall and spin recoveries, pullouts from steep dives, or when overshooting a base to final turn. An accelerated stall is typically demonstrated during steep turns. Stalls that result from abrupt maneuvers tend to be more aggressive than unaccelerated, +1G stalls. Because they occur at higher-than-normal airspeeds or may occur at lower-than-anticipated pitch attitudes, they can surprise an inexperienced pilot…Failure to take immediate steps toward recovery may result in a spin or other departure from controlled flight. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATIONAn autopsy of the pilot was performed by the Gila County Office of the Medical Examiner, Payson, Arizona. The autopsy report stated that the pilot's cause of death was "multiple blunt impact injuries." The FAA's Forensic Sciences Laboratory conducted toxicology tests on specimens from the pilot. The results were negative for all tests performed; no drugs were identified in blood and no potentially impairing substances were found in urine.
The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack while maneuvering for landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and a subsequent loss of control.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
