On December 22, 1979, a Beechcraft 90 King Air (registration N724N) operated by Hudson & Marshall was involved in an aviation accident near Leeville, United States of America in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Uncontrolled descent and subsequent airframe failure in-flight after the pilot suffered spatial disorientation. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
During a night flight from Houston to Tampa, the pilot encountered icing conditions and suffered spatial disorientation. The twin-engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent, partially disintegrated in flight, and crashed into a lake near Leeville. Both occupants were killed.
Accident Summary
On a night flight from Houston, Texas, to Tampa, Florida, the aircraft was at cruising altitude when the pilot encountered poor weather conditions, including icing. The pilot subsequently suffered spatial disorientation. The twin-engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and partially disintegrated in mid-air before crashing into a lake near Leeville. Both occupants sustained fatal injuries.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the probable cause of the accident was an uncontrolled descent and subsequent airframe failure in-flight after the pilot suffered spatial disorientation. Contributing factors reported include: the pilot exceeded the designed stress limits of the aircraft; incorrect weather briefing; icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain; failure of flight control surfaces including the horizontal stabilizer and its attachments; failure of wing spars; overload failure; and separation in flight. The aircraft came to rest in water.