The airplane broke up in flight at approximately 1400 Pacific time. The commercial pilot was fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed. Visual conditions prevailed. A witnesses reported hearing a loud screaming noise overhead. He observed an airplane traveling south to north, suddenly “disintegrate,” and described the wings and fuselage floating to the ground. Air traffic controllers reported the pilot requested a frequency change while climbing, and when the airplane was at around 7000 feet they lost radar contact. No other radio communications with the pilot were reported.
January 18, 2008, Selma, Calif., Beechcraft V35B
The airplane broke up in flight at approximately 1400 Pacific time. The commercial pilot was fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed. Visual conditions prevailed. A witnesses reported hearing a loud screaming noise overhead. He observed an airplane traveling south to north, suddenly "disintegrate," and described the wings and fuselage floating to the ground. Air traffic controllers reported the pilot requested a frequency change while climbing, and when the airplane was at around 7000 feet they lost radar contact. No other radio communications with the pilot were reported.
Key Takeaways:
- A commercial pilot was fatally injured and their airplane destroyed after it broke up in flight under visual conditions.
- A witness reported hearing a loud screaming noise before observing the airplane "disintegrate" in mid-air, with its components floating to the ground.
- Air traffic control lost radar contact with the aircraft at approximately 7000 feet, after the pilot requested a frequency change, with no subsequent radio communications.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
