Beech A36 | N566C
March 14th, 2025 | Greenville, North Carolina
Accident Location
- City: Greenville
- State: North Carolina
- Latitude: 35.637222
- Longitude: -77.37222
- Airport ID: KPGV
Aircraft Info
- N Number: N566C
- Make: Beech
- Model: A36
- Aircraft Category: Aircraft Single Engine Land
- Amateur Built: No
Pilot Info
- PIC Name: Bowman, Mark Steven
- Gender: Male
- Pilot Age: 68
- Pilot Hours: 2034
- Flight School: No
- Instructional Flight: No
- Pilot Certification: Private Pilot
- IFR Rating: Yes
- Pilot Error: Yes
- Pilot Medical: Basic Med
- Pilot Incapacitation: No
Analysis
- Date: March 14th, 2025
- Time: 7:50 AM Local Time
- Day / Night: Day
- VMC / IMC: IMC
- Phase Of Flight: Initial Climb
- Total People Onboard: 2
- PIC Fatality: 1
- PAX Fatalities: 1
- Ground Fatalities: 0
- Total Fatalities: 2
- NTSB No: ERA25FA143
- NTSB Travel: Yes
- AQP Classification: 3) I- IMC ATO, C-FIT
Probable Cause
DTSB: 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.
NTSB: 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).
Recommendation
DTSB: 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.
NTSB: NONE
DISCLAIMER: All data and Probable Cause listings are “Probable” only. They are based on opinion and educated speculation, and are for educational purposes only. They may contain incorrect information and are subject to change as new information becomes available.