BELVEDERE CTR, VT, USA
CFICA
CONVAIR CV-580
THE AIRPLANE WAS CRUISING IN NIGHT INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WHEN IT ENTERED A LEFT TURN AND EXCEEDED THE DESIGN AIRFRAME LIMITS. THE AIRPLANE BROKE UP IN THE DESCENT DUE TO AERODYNAMIC FORCES AND WAS DESTROYED.. THE OUTBOARD WING PANELS HAD FAILED DOWNWARD AND CENTER WING SECTION SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE. THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND ELEVATORS HAD FAILED DOWN AND AFT. THE CAPTAIN WAS FOUND OUT OF THE COCKPIT WITH NO EVIDENCE OF HIM BEING IN THE SEAT AT IMPACT A HUMAN FACTORS STUDY FOUND THE AIRCRAFT'S LAST MINUTE OF FLIGHT MATCHED A PROFILE OF A PILOT EXPERIENCING SPATIAL DISORIENTATION.
FAILURE OF THE FIRST OFFICER (CO-PILOT) TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER BECOMING SPATIALLY DISORIENTED, AND HIS EXCEEDING THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LACK OF TWO PILOTS IN THE COCKPIT, DARKNESS, AND INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) AT FLIGHT ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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