Beech A36 | N566C

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the accident pilot departed into low IMC conditions and became distracted by the common feeling that the aircraft flight instruments were not accurate, and did try to control the aircraft by what he felt was correct. The flight profile provided by ADS-b data suggests a right spiral descending form of SD and a high speed, nose low impact into terrain as the aircraft came out of the clouds with the right wing low.

Probable Cause issued 9/8/2026 – 18 months after the accident: The pilot’s loss of airplane control shortly after climbing into instrument meteorological conditions due to spatial disorientation (somatogyral illusion).

The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft rehearse and condition themselves to fully prepared for IMC takeoffs and maintain wings level and positive climb by refencing the aircraft instruments during this critical phase. This AQP scenario is (#3 I-IMC-ATO) is very common and the aircraft wreckage is usually located very close to the departure runway.