What happened
On December 20, 2018, a Cessna 560, registration N188CW, departed from runway 8 at Fulton County Airport Brown Field (FTY) in Atlanta, Georgia. Following takeoff, the pilot was cleared by air traffic control to turn left to a heading of 310°.
During the climb, radar data showed the aircraft's rate of climb increased significantly, reaching approximately 9,600 feet per minute, while the airspeed decelerated to about 75 knots. The cockpit voice recorder captured an increase in engine sound, followed by a decrease in engine sound. Shortly after, the aircraft's stall warning system activated, characterized by the sound of the stick shaker and electronic voice alerts stating "sink rate" and "pull up."
The aircraft then entered a descending right turn and rolled to an inverted attitude. The airplane struck a tree before impacting a field approximately 50 feet beyond the initial strike. The accident resulted in 4 fatal injuries for the pilot and three passengers.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found the aircraft was highly fragmented. While the engines were separated from the airframe and showed various forms of impact damage and rotational scoring, the examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. The attitude indicator indicated the aircraft was in an inverted position at the time of impact.
Weather observations at the time of the accident included an overcast ceiling of 600 feet, light rain, and visibility of 7 miles. A Center Weather Advisory had been in effect for the area, warning of low instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) ceilings and reduced visibility.
Findings
Analysis of the flight path and cockpit recordings suggests the pilot experienced spatial disorientation after entering a cloud layer. This disorientation likely led to the high rate of climb and the subsequent rapid loss of airspeed, resulting in an aerodynamic stall. The aircraft's final descent, roll to an inverted attitude, and high-energy impact are all consistent with a loss of control caused by spatial disorientation.