On February 1, 2003, a Beech A36 (registration N5677X) operated by Larry L. Brown was involved in an aviation accident near Grand Rapids, MI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control which resulted in the overload of the aircraft. Spatial disorientation, an inoperative turn coordinator, and the pilot's misinterpretation of the flight instruments were contributing factors. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A certified flight instructor reported a loss of control during an instrument training flight in actual IMC. The airplane sustained substantial damage during a high-speed pull-up while recovering from an unusual attitude, then returned to the departure airport.
Incident Overview
A certified flight instructor (CFI) was on board an airplane conducting an instrument training flight in actual instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). During the flight, the airplane experienced a loss of control, leading to an unusual attitude. While recovering from this unusual attitude with a high-speed pull-up, the airplane sustained substantial damage. Despite the damage, the airplane returned to the departure airport.
Flight Details
The CFI reported that pre-departure checks of the flight instruments were normal. The ceiling at the time was reported as overcast at 700 feet above ground level. During the flight, the gyroscopic flight instrument became unusable, according to the CFI.
Examination Findings
A post-accident examination revealed that the turn coordinator circuit breaker was in the open position. Further testing of the gyroscopic flight instruments and the instrument pressure system found no detectable defects.