The student pilot and his passenger departed on a visual flight rules cross-country flight in the Beech 77 and entered instrument meteorological conditions.
He decided to continue climbing, and when the airplane exited the clouds, he saw the top of a mountain and trees directly in front of him.
He “stalled” the airplane to reduce speed and the airplane hit trees at a speed of about 60 knots before it descended to the ground near Elizabethon, Tennessee.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, but the student pilot and the passenger were uninjured.
The student pilot told investigators that he made a mistake and took full responsibility for the accident.
Probable Cause: The student pilot’s decision to continue from visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees and mountainous terrain.
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This June 2020 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Student pilot with passenger? The flight was wrong before it even began. I wonder if the plane was paid for by the insurance company?
“log book lost “on accident”? Right. And the dog ate my homework. If this clown gets his ticket, ever, he doesn’t deserve it. That kind of arrogance should require a permanent ban on the ability to put others in danger.
I wonder what sanctions his “flight instructor” suffered?
This follows a common pattern in many accident reports. A deeper investigation reveals this was not a “one-off oops” but rather, a result of intentionally breaking *many* rules (bad weather, student w/pax, unapproved night ops, fatigue). This intentional climb into/through clouds to “get on top” finally resulted in CFIT which this pilot and pax were very lucky to escape uninjured!
I’m surprised that he saw the mountains before he hit them. I learned to fly in that area and it’s littered with General Aviation aircraft. The area between Morristown and Elizabethton is right down the middle of the Tennessee Valley, but it narrows some approaching Elizabethton. TRI is not far from Elizabethton. It’s got an TSRA with good approach/departure facilities. I’m wondering what his altitude was. TRI would have kept him out of trouble.
owner states insurance company totalled it for him as fbo owner
seems he was flying since before there was an faa
skippers a tough slow bird
Why does a “Student Pilot” have a passenger?? This isn’t the first time I’ve read similar accident reports in this forum. I’m wondering what happens to these “Students” and/or instructors with respect to FAA violations??
It is possible the student owned the airplane and didn’t bother with 90 day solo and XC trip endorsements.
It is also certain this won’t be covered by any insurance.