On June 26, 1991, a Beech 77 (registration N60195) operated by Roy Stewart was involved in an aviation accident near Magnolia, MS. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S (CFI'S) IMPROPER SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT AND A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE ABOVE THE TREES. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A CFI and student on a VFR instructional flight crashed after the right wing tip hit treetops. The airplane continued briefly then descended steeply about 330 ft from initial contact. No preimpact failure found.
Accident Details
A certified flight instructor and a student were conducting an instructional flight under visual flight rules. A witness observed the airplane flying eastbound and heard it shortly before the crash. The airplane subsequently crashed while on a southerly heading. Evidence indicated that the initial impact occurred when the right wing tip collided with treetops. After the tree strike, the airplane remained airborne for a distance, then crashed in a steep descent after traveling approximately 330 feet from where the first piece of the wing tip was found.
Aircraft Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact part failure or malfunction of the aircraft or engine. The exact sequence of events leading to the wing tip contact with trees was not determined.