What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1998-06-10 involved a Beech F33A, registration N6033U, at Delaplane, VA.

Airplane Collides with Mountainous Terrain en Route to Frederick (N6033U)

On June 10, 1998, a Beech F33A (registration N6033U) was involved in an aviation accident near Delaplane, VA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision which led to VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Also causal was the pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance resulting in collision with mountainous terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data API Editorial standards

An airplane on a VFR cross-country flight collided with mountainous terrain 40 miles from Frederick, Maryland. Witnesses reported low clouds and fog. No mechanical malfunction was found.

Accident Overview

A pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were en route to Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK) in Maryland when the airplane struck mountainous terrain approximately 40 miles from the destination. The flight had just completed a successful visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flying event organized by the U.S. Air Race, Inc.

Witness Accounts

Several witnesses near the crash site reported hearing an airplane overfly their homes at a low altitude. They stated that the engine was operating normally as it passed overhead, but then they heard the engine stop, followed by a 'thud.' Witnesses described the weather as cloudy, with fog covering the tops of 50-foot-tall trees.

Weather Conditions

According to the Chairperson of the U.S. Air Race, Inc., the event organizers terminated the daylight and VFR-only event early because weather conditions did not appear suitable for a VFR flight to FDK. Several VFR aircraft landed short of FDK and drove the remaining distance. AIRMET SIERRA update number 5, issued at 1545, was current for mountain obscuration and instrument flight rules (IFR) ceilings and visibility over the accident location. The weather at FDK was IFR, and instrument approaches were in use.

Flight Planning

Air Traffic Control records indicate that the pilot did not file a flight plan. An air traffic controller reported that 'Aircraft were canceling their IFR either after landing or short final which caused other inbounds to hold or get delaying vectors.'

Aircraft Examination

Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunction.

1998-06-10: Beech F33A (N6033U) — Delaplane, VA