20000909015279A

(-23) Witnesses reported a/c was flying parallel to runway at a heading of 040. Attempted to make a 180 degree turn and land on runway 22. A/c crashed and burned approx. 200 yards from the end and to the left of runway 22. (.4) during an IFR flight when near the destination airport, the pilot was provided the most current weather for the closest airport and also with the current altimeter setting required for the approach. The flight was cleared for the non-precision approach and according to two pilot-rated witnesses who were related to the pilot and were waiting at the airport for the flight to arrive, the weather conditions at the airport consisted of a ceiling at 500-600 feet and the visibility was 3 statute miles. No weather reporting was available at the destination airport. The airplane was observed on the downwind leg flying beneath the clouds and 644 feet abeam the runway with the landing gear extended and what appeared to be approach flaps. One of the witnesses reported that he heard a sound he associated with the propellers being placed in the low pitch position and also heard the engines increase RPM what he thought was full power for what he thought would be a missed approach. The airplane then began turning base leg when the flight had passed 10-20 degrees past the numbers; the bank angle increased to approximately 70-75 degrees and the nose then pitched down and the airplane impacted the ground. The witness reported that the engine sound did not change from the moment he heard power applied to the point of impact. Examination of the engines, propellers, and flight controls revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The flap selector switch was found in the down position and the left flap actuator was found in the full down position; no determination could be made as to the position of the right flap actuator. The stall speed increase with a 70 and 75-degree angle of bank is 73 percent and approximately 100 percent, respectively.