What happened
A private flight from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Burlington, Vermont, ended in tragedy over Lake Erie. On the second day of the journey, the pilot was navigating a Beechcraft Bonanza through the Great Lakes region. While overflying the lake, the pilot notified Air Traffic Control that he was attempting to maneuver around cloud activity. Shortly after, the pilot reported that the aircraft had entered a spin. Radar tracking showed the aircraft undergoing several rapid altitude fluctuations before disappearing from the controller's screen. The aircraft struck the water at high speed, resulting in one fatality.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's flight path and the meteorological conditions present during the descent. Radar analysis revealed that the aircraft's flight path was unstable, showing the pilot losing control of the aircraft on three separate occasions. The aircraft was eventually located by divers on the floor of Lake Erie, approximately 95 feet deep. Examination of the wreckage showed vertical compression, suggesting a possible attempt to recover the aircraft from its descent just before hitting the water. Investigators also reviewed communications between the pilot and various Air Traffic Control agencies, noting that the pilot had been warned multiple times about approaching thunderstorms.
Findings
- The pilot, who did not hold an instrument rating, chose to proceed into weather conditions known to be hazardous.
- Air Traffic Control had provided the pilot with several warnings regarding approaching thunderstorm cells and inclement weather.
- The aircraft experienced multiple periods of uncontrolled flight prior to the final impact.
- The non-instrument-rated pilot continued flight into known adverse weather conditions and lost control of the aircraft.