19981107031819A

(.19) On November 7, 1998, approximately 1915 central standard time, a Beech B19 airplane, N9740L, owned and operated by private individuals, was destroyed after impacting the ground while maneuvering near Hobart, Oklahoma. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his passenger were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the title 14 CFR part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from cordell, Oklahoma, approximately fifteen minutes before the accident, and was destined for Hobart, Oklahoma. During a phone interview conducted by the investigator-in-charge (iic), a witness, who is a private pilot, stated that he heard the aircraft "circling over his house," which is located 2 1/2 miles weest of the accident sight, and observed the airplane "dipping out of the clouds." He added that the weather conditions were "IMC and foggy" and that the "airplane seemed to be looking for the airport." Another witness stated that he was one mile north of the accident sight when he saw "lights descend from the clouds and then climb back up into the clouds." He later saw a flash of light followed by a fire. The airport manager of the Hobart Municipal Airport stated that the airport beacon was on and that someone had activated the pilot controlled runway lights prior to the accident. Investigation of the wreckage by the iic revealed that the aircraft came to rest upright, 220 feet from the initial ground scar. The nose and main landing gear were separated from the airplane and were found north of the wreckage path. The wreckage path showed evidence of fire starting from the second ground scar. The aircraft was destroyed by a postimpact fire. (-23) on 11/07/98, at approximately 1920 CST, a Beech B10, N9740L, on a flihgt from cordell, OK, to Hobart, OK, crashed into the ground near Hobart, OK. The pilot and passenger were both killed. The aircraft was flying in IMC conditions and the pilot was not IMC certified. Pilot was VMC certified only. It appears that the pilot was scud running in and out of the clouds and flew into the ground. (.4)the non-instrument rated private pilot continued flight into dark night instrument meteorological conditions, and the airplane impacted terrain while maneuvering. Witnesses, located 2 1/2 miles west of the accident site, reported observing the aircraft descend out of the clouds with its navigation lights visible and then ascend back into the clouds. One of the witnesses stated that the weather conditions were 'IMC and foggy' and that the 'airplane seemed to be looking for the airport.' Another witness reported observing the airplane 'go down at a steep rate of descent and then pulled up and disappeared into the clouds.' A few minutes later, he 'saw an explosion and flames just over the hill.' A weather observation, taken 6 minutes prior to the accident, reported the visibility at 1 3/4 miles in mist and an overcast ceiling at 200 feet AGL. No record was found of any preflight weather briefing obtained by the pilot. No anomalies were found with the airframe or engine that would have prevented normal operation. The levels of 1.182 (mg/dl, mg/hg) norfluoxetine (metabolite of prozac) detected in liver and 0.055 (mg/dl, mg/hg) norfluoxetine detected in blood were not high eno ugh to cause impairment.