Narrative:
A Cessna 560 Citation V corporate jet, N188CW, impacted English Park, Atlanta, Georgia shortly after takeoff from Fulton County Airport-Brown Field (KFTY). The airplane was destroyed during the accident sequence and a post-impact fire and the four occupants onboard received fatal injuries.
The pilot departed on an instrument flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Radar data indicated that the airplane entered a left turn after takeoff, consistent with the pilot's instrument clearance. As the airplane climbed to an altitude about 2,410 ft above ground level, its rate of climb increased from about 3,500 ft per minute to 9,600 ft per minute, the stick shaker activated, and the airplane decelerated to about 75 knots. The airplane then entered a descending right turn and rolled
inverted before impacting terrain about 1 mile from the airport. All major components of the airplane were located at the accident site, and examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The weather conditions about the time of the accident included an overcast cloud ceiling about 600 ft above ground level. It is likely that the pilot became spatially disoriented after entering the cloud layer, which resulted in the airplane's high rate of climb, rapid loss of airspeed, and a likely aerodynamic stall. The steep descending right turn, the airplane's roll to an inverted attitude, and the high-energy impact are also consistent with a loss of control due to spatial disorientation.
Probable Cause:
The pilot's loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation during initial climb in instrument meteorological conditions.
Loss of control
» AJC.com
» Flightaware
KFTY 201653Z 06010KT 4SM -RA BR BKN008 OVC014 08/08 A2957 RMK AO2 PRESFR SLP012 P0013 T00830083
17:16 UTC / 12:16 local time:
KFTY 201716Z 05010KT 7SM -RA OVC006 08/08 A2952 RMK AO2 PRESFR P0002 T00830083
accident date: 20-12-2018
type: Cessna 560 Citation V
registration: N188CW
accident date: 20-12-2018
type: Cessna 560 Citation V
registration: N188CW
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 20 December 2018 |
| Time: | 12:11 |
| Type: |  Cessna 560 Citation V |
| Operator: | Chen Aircrafts LLC |
| Registration: | N188CW |
| MSN: | 560-0148 |
| First flight: | 1991 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 6854 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 2 km (1.3 mls) NE of Atlanta-Fulton County Airport, GA (FTY) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Initial climb (ICL) |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Atlanta-Fulton County Airport, GA (FTY/KFTY), United States of America |
| Millington-Memphis Airport, TN (NQA/KNQA), United States of America |
A Cessna 560 Citation V corporate jet, N188CW, impacted English Park, Atlanta, Georgia shortly after takeoff from Fulton County Airport-Brown Field (KFTY). The airplane was destroyed during the accident sequence and a post-impact fire and the four occupants onboard received fatal injuries.
The pilot departed on an instrument flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Radar data indicated that the airplane entered a left turn after takeoff, consistent with the pilot's instrument clearance. As the airplane climbed to an altitude about 2,410 ft above ground level, its rate of climb increased from about 3,500 ft per minute to 9,600 ft per minute, the stick shaker activated, and the airplane decelerated to about 75 knots. The airplane then entered a descending right turn and rolled
inverted before impacting terrain about 1 mile from the airport. All major components of the airplane were located at the accident site, and examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The weather conditions about the time of the accident included an overcast cloud ceiling about 600 ft above ground level. It is likely that the pilot became spatially disoriented after entering the cloud layer, which resulted in the airplane's high rate of climb, rapid loss of airspeed, and a likely aerodynamic stall. The steep descending right turn, the airplane's roll to an inverted attitude, and the high-energy impact are also consistent with a loss of control due to spatial disorientation.
Probable Cause:
Probable Cause:
The pilot's loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation during initial climb in instrument meteorological conditions.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Loss of situational awareness Loss of control
Sources:
» NTSB» AJC.com
» Flightaware
METAR Weather report:
16:53 UTC / 11:53 local time:KFTY 201653Z 06010KT 4SM -RA BR BKN008 OVC014 08/08 A2957 RMK AO2 PRESFR SLP012 P0013 T00830083
17:16 UTC / 12:16 local time:
KFTY 201716Z 05010KT 7SM -RA OVC006 08/08 A2952 RMK AO2 PRESFR P0002 T00830083
Photos
accident date: 20-12-2018
type: Cessna 560 Citation V
registration: N188CW
accident date: 20-12-2018
type: Cessna 560 Citation V
registration: N188CW
Video, social media
Atlanta Fire can confirm a plane crash near Fulton Industrial Pkwy and Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy. FFs extinguishing hotspots at this time. There are no survivors. Working to confirm total number of occupants that were on aircraft. Also checking neighborhood for injuries. #AFRD pic.twitter.com/Z3NHPHMVMo
— Atlanta Fire Rescue (@ATLFireRescue) 20 december 2018
This is a screen grab from video witnesses shot shortly after the small plane crashed in English Park in NW Atlanta. Three souls confirmed on board. pic.twitter.com/mFD4xa1vYm
— Richard Elliot (@RElliotWSB) December 20, 2018
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Atlanta-Fulton County Airport, GA to Millington-Memphis Airport, TN as the crow flies is 517 km (323 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Atlanta-Fulton County Airport, GA to Millington-Memphis Airport, TN as the crow flies is 517 km (323 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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