U-FITAQP: 12) LOSS OF SPEED AWARENESS
THE DTSB
The DTSB determines the probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the pilot did maneuver the accident aircraft at high gross weight and high density altitude for the purpose of spreading the ashes of the passengers deceased husband. The plane crashed in a stall spin nose down attitude and the passenger died at the scene the un-named pilot made a full recovery. The wreckage path was found to be vertical and all located inside a very small circle.
NTSB
The NTSB determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s decision to continue the flight over rising terrain at a low altitude in a high-elevation, high-density-altitude environment.
THE DTSB
The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft rehearse and become conditioned to the elements of flight in these conditions, and that they learn to honor DMMS at all times, which includes a maximum of 30 degrees bank when operating below 2500 AGL, and flight at DMMS speed at the minimum.
NTSB
None issued. NTSB recommendations are rare and usually tied to high-profile accidents.
See the NTSB Recommendation Tracker →