19991005028569A

(.19) On October 5, 1999, about 0545 eastern daylight time, a Raytheon BE-200, N208MS, was destroyed when it impacted terrain in williamstown, Massachusetts. The certificated airline transport pilot, and the certificated commercial rated co-pilot were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filled for the flight that departed the Harriman-And-West Airport (aqw), North Adams, Massachusetts, about 0544. The positioning flight was destined for the greenbrier valley airport, lewisburg, west Virginia, and was conducted under 14 CFR part 91. According to initial information received from the federal aviation administration (FAA), at 0521, N208MS contacted the burlington automated flight service station (afss), and requested an IFR clearance. Burlington afss, then contacted albany approach control, and received the following clearance, which was relayed to N208MS: "... ATC clears November two zero eight mike sierra from the North Adams airport to the lima wiskey bravo airport via as filed climb and maintain five thousand expect flight level two two zero one zero minutes after departure departure control frequency albany approach on one two five point zero..." N208MS then transmitted: "...ATC clears ah king air two zero eight mike sierra as filed five thousand flight level two two zero in ten minutes..." The airplane departed runway 29 at aqw. At 0944:08, N208MS made initial contact with albany approach control, and at 0944:13, N208MS, stated "yeah we're off of North Adams." Albany approach control then relayed the current albany airport altimeter setting which was acknowledged by N208MS. At 0944:30, N208MS transmitted "...what's the chances of higher." At 0944:37, albany approach stated "as soon as I pick up your transponder I don't have anything on you yet." At 0944:45, N208MS transmitted, "uh, you want us at 2200." There was no further transmissions from N208MS. The airplane wreckage was located at about 1515, on mount berlin, at an elevation of about 2,300 feet, approximately 4.8 miles west of aqw. The airplane impacted wooded uneven terrain. The wreckage was scattered about 350 feet on a magnetic bearing of approximately 280 degrees. Several broken trees were observed, which led to the beginning of the debris path. The trees were broken at about the same height. All ma jor portions of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. The airplane's wings, fuselage, and tail section, were fractured into several pieces, and scattered along the debris path. Additionally, several parts of the airplane were consumed by a post crash fire, and a strong odor of fuel was present at the accident site. Both engines were separated from their attach points, and both propellers were separated from their respective engines. Examination of both engines revealed rotational scoring present in the area of the power turbines, and there were no case penetrations. Both propellers were missing a blade which had separated at the hub. The remaining two blades from each propeller were twisted and contained "s" bending, accompanied with substantial leading and trailing edge damage. The pilot reported 7,000 hours of total flight experience on his last application for an FAA first class medical certificate, which was issued on June 16, 1999. The co-pilot reported 970 hours of total flight experience on his last application for an FAA first class medical certificate, which was issued on September 17, 1998. A weather observation taken at an airport about 12 miles nort h-northwest at 0554, reported: wind calm; visibility 10 statue miles; few clouds at 300 feet; ceiling 1,700 feet overcast; temperature 43 degrees f; dewpoint 41 degrees f; altimeter 30.11. (.4)the pre-takeoff instrument flight rules clearance for the flight called for the airplane to climb and maintain 5,000 feet, and to expect flight level 220, 10 minutes after departure. The clearance was read back correctly by a member of the flight crew. Shortly after takeoff, a member of the flight crew asked air traffic control for a higher altitude, and then stated 'uh, you want us at twenty two hundred.' The approach controller transmitted 'should be at five thousand;' however, there were no further transmissions from the airplane. The airplane wreckage was located at an elevation of about 2,300 feet, approximately 4.8 miles west of the departure airport. The airplane impacted wooded up-sloping terrain. Several broken trees were observed, which led to the beginning of the debris path. The trees were broken at about the same height. A weather observation taken at an airport about 12 miles north-northwest of the accident site, about the time of the accident included:few clouds at 300 feet and a ceiling of 1,700 feet overcast. (-23) on October 4, 1999, at 05:45 eastern daylight time, a Beech king air 200, N208MS, was destroyed when it impacted berlin mountain in williamstown, MA, after taking off from North Adams airport (aqw) in North Adams, MA. The certificated airline transport pilot and the certificated commercial rated co-pilot were fatally injured. The aircraft departed on an IFR flight clearance. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the FAR part 91 repositioning flight to greenbrier valley airport, lewisburg, WV. The aircraft was being repositioned by shoreline aviation (fvaa) for a FAR part 135 trip to hartford, CT. The aircraft impacted berlin mountain at approximately 2350 feet, the mountain elevation being 2700 feet.