19971015030669A

Lost RPM left engine on climbout. Rolled into same and crashed. Unskilled engine out emergency. Tried turnback. (.4)according to the tower controller, the airplane took off and was about 1/2 mile off the end of the runway and about 300 feet above ground level (AGL) when the pilot radioed that he was 'losing rpm'. Witnesses stated that the airplane was very low, about 150 to 200 feet. They said they saw the airplane bank hard to the left and impact the ground with the left wing. It then cartwheeled down the hill and burst into flames. The majority of the airplane was destroyed by impact and postcrash fire. Examination of both engines revealed normal operational signatures throughout. Examination of both propellers revealed damage consistent with the development of power. Both propellers impacted the ground, separated from the respective engines, and tumbled coming to rest in grassy areas. There was evidence that during impact, both engines were producing some power, and both propellers were rotating. The specific amount of power could not be quantified. (-23) on October 15, 1997, about 1659 EDT, a Beech 95-B55, N315K, collided with the ground while attempting an emergency landing shortly after takeoff at the Mccollum airport, kennesaw, GA. The airplane was operated by the commercial pilot under visual flight rules. The pilot and sole occupant sustained fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed by impact and post crash fire. According to the tower controller, the airplane had taken off on runway 09, and was about 1/2 mile off the end of the runway and about 300 feet above ground level when the pilot radioed that he was "losing RPM." The controller cleared local traffic from the area and told the pilot that he was cleared to land on runway 27. The pilot acknowledged the clearance. Witnesses state that they saw the airplane in a shallow bank to the left. They then saw the airplane back hard to the left, and impact the ground.