History of Flight
On April 13, 2019, at about 1514 central daylight time, a Rockwell International NA-265-65 airplane, registration N265DS, impacted terrain near New Albany, Mississippi, after the pilots reported an electrical malfunction. The two commercial pilots and one passenger sustained fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. The flight was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight on an instrument flight rules flight plan. Instrument meteorological conditions were reported at the accident site and along the route. The flight departed University-Oxford Airport (UOX), Oxford, Mississippi, at 1506 and was destined for Marion County-Rankin Fite Airport (HAB), Hamilton, Alabama.
Air Traffic Control (ATC) audio, flight track recordings, and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) captured portions of the flight. At 1501, the captain requested and received an IFR clearance. At 1506, the captain reported climbing through 1,300 ft msl. The controller advised of moderate to severe precipitation near UOX and cleared the flight to 11,000 ft msl. About 1508, the transponder stopped transmitting altitude. The controller queried the altitude, and the captain responded they were climbing through 9,000 ft for 11,000 ft.
At 15:08:02, the CVR recorded pilots discussing unknown system anomalies, including a "filament" issue that was resolved. About a minute later, they checked circuit breakers and discussed affected equipment, noting issues with a ground blower breaker, avionics master, and autopilot. The captain took control at 15:09:56. At 15:10:27, the copilot reported losing communication with ATC. The CVR ended at 15:10:43. No emergency checklist was referenced, and a specific malfunction was not identified.
From 1506 to 1510, the airplane maintained a heading of about 080°. At 1510, it turned right to 120°, then left to 040° at 1512. About 1512, the controller asked about navigation issues, and the captain reported deviating due to "AC voltage problems." The last radio call at 1513 acknowledged a heading assignment to 095°. Radar contact was lost about 30 seconds later, with the airplane turning right to about 270°. The final radar return was about 1/2 mile southeast of the accident location.
Personnel Information
Pilot logbooks for both pilots were not recovered during the investigation.
Aircraft Information
The total time on the airplane and time since last inspection could not be determined due to impact damage.
Meteorological Information
The closest weather reporting facility was Tupelo Regional Airport (TUP), 13.5 miles southeast of the accident site. At 1505, TUP reported wind 050° at 8 knots, visibility 10 miles in light rain, broken ceiling at 1,200 ft agl, overcast at 4,000 ft, temperature 16°C, dew point 14°C, altimeter 29.82 inHg, with distant lightning northwest through north. At 1524, conditions included a thunderstorm in the vicinity, light rain, scattered clouds at 1,200 ft, broken ceiling at 4,900 ft, overcast at 8,000 ft, altimeter 29.80 inHg, with distant lightning north and northwest.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane struck trees and terrain in a rural forest near farm fields. Initial tree strikes occurred about 300 ft before the ground impact point (GIP). Tree shear angles indicated a 30° right bank, 10° nose-low attitude, and a heading of 005°. The debris field measured 1,220 ft from the GIP to the farthest wreckage and was about 800 ft wide. Wreckage was oriented on a northerly heading. Most components were highly fragmented and unidentifiable. Green position light material was found 50 ft before the GIP; the left wingtip was 130 ft from the GIP on a 325° bearing. Engine components were located between 400 and 800 ft from the GIP, with rotational markings and impact damage. Flight control continuity and electrical system components could not be verified due to damage.
Additional Information
The CVR was recovered and downloaded by the NTSB Recorder Laboratory, containing a recording of the accident flight. Autopsies were performed by the Mississippi State Medical Examiner, but no reports were available at the time of this writing. An NTSB medical officer reviewed toxicology and medical history, finding no evidence of medical conditions or substance use by either pilot that contributed to the accident.