Hawker Beechcraft Corporation A36 accident near Seligman, Arizona, June 19, 2010
On June 19, 2010 at about 5:26 am local time, a Hawker Beechcraft Corporation A36, registered N155FT, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Seligman, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain in the dark night.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 2010 · about 5:26 am local time
- Place
- Seligman, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hawker Beechcraft Corporation A36
- Registration
- N155FT · registry record · serial E-1922
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed on a visual flight rules flight on a dark night, and family members reported that he had been drinking alcohol and was under emotional distress. Toxicological testing gave no conclusive results as to the pilot's alcohol intoxication level, if any, at the time of the accident. Radar data identified as the airplane's flight track showed a progression from east to west, with the radar targets showing a gradual descent to the altitude of the mountainous terrain in the area, and then ending in the vicinity of the accident site. Very few ground reference lights existed in the area of the accident site and the moon was in its first quarter and would not have provided any significant illumination of the terrain. The radar data was consistent with the pilot's loss of situational awareness during the dark night and the airplane gradually descending into terrain. Examination of the recovered airframe and engine components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction.
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
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusio › Situational awareness › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on personnel
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,179 hours in all; 35 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 11, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,731 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 2009; 3,871 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-550-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAF Santa Fe NM at 1:00 am
- Destination: Unknown
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 am from CMR, 34 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.