Date:	Sunday 24 December 2017
Time:	07:17
Type:	Cessna 340
Owner/operator:	Aviation Transportation LLC
Registration:	N247AT
MSN:	340-0214
Year of manufacture:	1973
Total airframe hrs:	1607 hours
Engine model:	Continental TSIO-520-NB1A
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Category:	Accident
Location:	Bartow Municipal Airport (KBOW), Bartow, FL -   United States of America
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Bartow Airport, FL (BOW/KBOW)
Destination airport:	Key West International Airport, FL (EYW/KEYW)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The instrument-rated private pilot and four passengers boarded the multiengine airplane inside a hangar. The pilot then requested that the airplane be towed from the hangar to the ramp, since he did not want to hit anything on the ramp while taxiing in the dense fog. Witnesses heard the pre-takeoff engine run-up toward the end of the runway but could not see the airplane as it departed; the engines sounded normal during the run-up and takeoff. A witness video recorded the takeoff but the airplane was not visible due to the dense fog. During the takeoff roll the airplane's tires chirped, which is consistent with the wheels touching down on the runway with a side load. The video ended before the accident occurred. The witnesses stated that the takeoff continued and then they heard the airplane impact the ground and saw an explosion. The weather conditions at the time of the accident included visibility less than 1/4 mile in fog and an overcast ceiling at 300 ft above ground level. The airplane's weight at the time of the accident was about 105 lbs over the maximum takeoff weight, which exceeded the center of gravity moment envelope. The excess weight would have likely extended the takeoff roll, decreased the climb rate, and increased the amount of elevator pressure required to lift off of the runway. A majority of the airplane was consumed by postcrash fire. The ground impact marks and wreckage distribution were consistent with the airplane rolling left over the departure end of the runway and impacting the ground inverted in a nearly vertical, nose-low attitude. Examination of the engines revealed operating signatures consistent with takeoff power at the time of impact. The elevator trim tab and actuator were found beyond their full up travel limits and the trim cable exhibited tension overload separations near the actuator. It is likely that, when the cable separated in overload, the chain turned the sprocket and extended the actuator rod beyond full travel. No anomalies were observed with the airframe, engines, or cockpit instrumentation that would have precluded normal operation. The investigation was unable to determine the status of the autopilot during the accident takeoff.

Based on the evidence it's likely that when the airplane entered instrument meteorological conditions the pilot experienced spatial disorientation, which resulted in a loss of control and descent into terrain.

Probable Cause: The pilot's loss of control due to spatial disorientation during takeoff in instrument meteorological conditions.

NTSB
FAA register: FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N247AT

https://photos-e1.flightcdn.com/photos/retriever/e5253b8a62a7ac84b662ed5fdaacb0490fb9fbae (photo)

Photo: NTSB

Horrible news this morning . A plane crashed at Bartow airport as it was trying to take off. @PolkFire told us at least four people are dead. @BN9 pic.twitter.com/xVQbLx6RXZ

— Stephanie Claytor (@ClaytorReports) 24 décembre 2017

#NTSB on #Cessna 340 N247AT (5 fatalities). On entering IMC on take off the pilot experienced spatial disorientation, which resulted in a LOC-I.https://t.co/qDu8SVgiqE#flightsafety #avgeek #airmanship pic.twitter.com/7WLupwdcWZ

— Aerossurance (@Aerossurance) March 3, 2019

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
24-Dec-2017 15:54	Geno	Added
24-Dec-2017 16:46	Iceman 29	Updated [Aircraft type, Embed code, Narrative, ]
24-Dec-2017 16:55	Geno	Updated [Aircraft type, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Embed code, Damage, Narrative, ]
24-Dec-2017 17:18	Iceman 29	Updated [Embed code, ]
24-Dec-2017 17:18	Iceman 29	Updated [Photo, ]
24-Dec-2017 17:26	Iceman 29	Updated [Narrative, ]
24-Dec-2017 21:28	Geno	Updated [Registration, Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Nature, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, ]
24-Dec-2017 23:46	Iceman 29	Updated [Time, Source, Embed code, Narrative, ]
04-Jan-2018 01:31	Iceman 29	Updated [Time, Source, Narrative, ]
02-Mar-2019 14:45	ASN Update Bot	Updated [Time, Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Accident report, ]
02-Mar-2019 15:45	harro	Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Photo, ]
03-Mar-2019 12:24	Aerossurance	Updated [Embed code, ]
08-Mar-2019 19:55	ASN Update Bot	Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Accident report, ]
01-May-2021 20:22	RobertMB	Updated [Cn, Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, ]