What happened
On March 14, 2025, a Raytheon A36, registration N566C, was destroyed during an accident in Greenville, North Carolina. The flight was operating under Part 91 as a personal flight, departing from Pitt-Greenville Airport (PGV) with a destination of Vero Beach Regional Airport (VRB) in Florida.
At approximately 0746, the aircraft departed PGV after the pilot received an instrument flight rules clearance. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft's transponder code changed. By 0748, the aircraft was climbing at 1,050 feet MSL with a groundspeed of 109 knots. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft descended to 700 feet MSL, with the groundspeed increasing to 130 knots.
A witness near the approach end of runway 26 observed the airplane descend out of a cloud and perform a 360-degree right roll before leveling off at 400 feet. The aircraft then entered a second right roll, and while that roll was halfway complete, the airplane descended into the ground.
The impact occurred in a nose-down attitude, striking a parked flatbed trailer and a gravel storage lot. The accident resulted in 2 fatal injuries for the pilot and the passenger.
The investigation
Examination of the wreckage showed the right wingtip fuel tank damaged the trailer, and the engine, propeller, and instrument panel were located in a 3-foot-deep impact crater. The debris path extended approximately 80 feet, ending where the aft cabin, left wing, and inverted empennage came to rest.
Investigators noted the following mechanical details:
- The flight control cables were heavily fragmented, and several unidentified cables showed signs of tensile overload.
- The aileron trim cables had pulled through the wing, and the actuator pushrod was bent.
- The fuel selector valve handle was found between detents, with the selector position rotated past the right fuel tank position.
- The landing gear actuator was found loose, with the drive gear positioned between the up and down positions.
- The engine and propeller sustained heavy damage; the propeller hub separated from the engine, and the crankshaft was separated forward of the No. 5 connecting arm journal.
- The aircraft's instrument panel had been updated with digital touchscreen primary displays, which were heavily damaged.
- The aft bench seat was not installed in the aircraft at the time of the accident.
- Various components of the seatbelts and harnesses were found unfastened, frayed, or missing buckles.