Beech C50 accident near Hagerstown, Maryland, August 27, 1989
On August 27, 1989 at about 12:38 pm local time, a Beech C50, registered N4917B, was destroyed in an accident near Hagerstown, Maryland. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AS A RESULT OF SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AFTER INTENTIONALLY FLYING INTO INSTRUMENT FLIGHT CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S OVER CONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY AND THE OBSCURED WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH EXISTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 1989 · about 12:38 pm local time
- Place
- Hagerstown, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech C50 · all C50s on the register
- Registration
- N4917B · no longer on the register · serial CH-315
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT AND NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT PASSENGER WERE FLYING TO ANDREWS AFB TO ATTEND AN AIRSHOW WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. A FSS WEATHER BRIEFING WAS OBTAINED DURING WHICH THE PLT WAS INFORMED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. OBSCURED CEILING AND FOG EXISTED AT THE DEPARTURE ARPT AND OVER THE MOUNTAIN RIDGES ENROUTE. THE PLT FILED VFR AND REQUESTED A SPECIAL VFR TO GET OUT OF THE CONTROL ZONE AT THE DEPARTURE APRT. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, APRX 3 MILES FROM THE ARPT, THE ACFT DESCENDED NEAR VERTICAL AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. WITNESSES STATED THE ACFT SOUNDED 'LOUD' AS IT CROSSED OVER HEAD PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WITH EITHER THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE. THE PLT HAD RECENTLY FAILED HIS IFR FLT TEST DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH ALTITUDE AND ATTITUDE CONTROL.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 938 hours in all; 342 in this make and model; 233 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,129 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 29, 1989; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-F4A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HGR Hagerstown MD at 12:34 pm
- Destination: ADW Camp Springs MD
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:41 pm from HGR, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.