19991222037279A

(.19) On December 22, 1999, approximately 1300 central standard time, a Beech D95A travel air twin-engine airplane, N456E, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near Boyd, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by delta qualiflight of fort worth, Texas. The certified flight instructor and the private pilot receiving instruction received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the code of federal regulations part 91 instructional flight. The local flight originated from the fort worth meacham international airport approximately 1200. According to the operator, the flight's purpose was to practice commercial, multi-engine maneuvers. Witnesses in the area around the time of the accident stated that they observed an airplane "spiraling downward" until it disappeared behind trees. Since many airplanes practice aerobatic maneuvers in the same area, the witnesses did not report their observations to local authorities. Personnel at the flight school thought that the pilots elected to conduct a cross-country flight instead of the scheduled local flight, and therefore, did not call the local aut horities. Personnel at the flight school thought that the pilots elected to conduct a cross-country flight instead of the scheduled local flight, and therefore, did not call the local authorities when the airplane was overdue. At 0110 on December 23, 1999, the civil air patrol (cap) initiated an aerial search for the airplane after air traffic controllers heard an emergency locator transmitter signal. The cap located the signal area and initiated a ground search at daybreak. The airplane was located at 0700 on December 23, 1999. The airplane came to rest in an open field on a magnetic heading of 080 degrees. There were no ground scars in the field except those directly beneath the airplane. The airplane came to rest intact in an upright position. The bottom side of the airplane was crushed up into the cockpit/cabin area. Examination of the wreckage at the accident site revealed that the landing gear handle in the cockpit was in the extended position, and the main and nose landing gears were found extended and collapsed under the wings and fuselage respectively. The flap actuators were measured and found to be in the fully extended position. The two throttle controls in th e cockpit were found in the idle position, and the mixture and propeller controls were in the full rich and high RPM setting respectively. At 1253, the weather reporting facility at the fort worth meacham international airport (located 20 miles southeast of the accident site), reported the wind as variable at 3 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, sky clear, temperature 48 degrees fahrenheit, dewpoint 18 degrees fahrenheit, altimeter setting of 30.38 inches of mercury. (-23)on December 22, 1999, at approx. 1300 CST, Beech a/c BE-95-D95A, N456E, received substantial damage upon impact with terrain near Boyd, TX. The a/c impacted an open field with a slight nose down attitude while the wings were nearly level. Witnesses in the area around the time of the accident stated that they observed an airplane spiraling downward until it disappeared behind trees. In addition, the a/c post impact indications are that it was spinning to the right during the descent. Examination of the wreckage revealed the left rudder was fully depressed. The landing gear and flaps were fully extended. The bottom side of the a/c was crushed up into the cockpit/cabin area. The flight instructor and the private pilot received fatal injuries.