The pilot of the Cessna Conquest that crashed about 60 miles northwest of Indianapolis a few weeks ago was ATP-rated and filed an IFR flight plan for the nighttime run from Eagle Creek Airport to Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Cessna 441 Conquest is a twin turboprop capable of carrying 10 passengers and has been out of production for 30 years. The trip should have been almost routine for an instrument-rated pilot.
Investigators Still Searching for Clues in Twin Cessna Accident
Key Takeaways:
- An ATP-rated pilot flying a Cessna 441 Conquest experienced repeated "trim problems" during a nighttime IFR flight, leading to a fatal crash with two passengers.
- The aircraft's flight profile included an initial loss of control followed by a rapid climb to 28,000 feet, with the pilot reporting trim issues both early in the flight and just before disappearing from radar.
- The NTSB investigation will examine the pilot's experience, the specific aircraft's history, and the Cessna 441 model's past, which included prior FAA groundings due to tail section design flaws.
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