20010219014249A

(.19)On February 19, 2001, about 1000 mountain standard time (MST), a Beech 95-B55, N9927S, piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when it impacted rolling terrain about 5 miles south-southeast of the town of Norris, south dakota. The pilot and the two passengers were fatally injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The aircraft received its takeoff clearance from the rapid city regional airport (rap), rapid city, south dakota, at 0929 and was en route to the karl stefan memorial airport, norfolk, Nebraska. Weather reporting stations, along a direct route of flight between the departure and destination airports, recorded visual meteorological conditions. Data from the rap air traffic control tower shows that the aircraft departed at 0929 MST on February 19, 2001. The aircraft failed to reach its final destination and was reported missing on February 23, 2001. The air force rescue coordination center initiated a search and rescue mission. The south dakota air national guard, south dakota civil air patrol, and the Nebraska civil air patrol participated in the search and rescue mission. The search was suspendyd on March 16, 2001. A rancher found the aircraft on March 29, 2001. An on scene examination of the aircraft wreckage was started on March 30, 2001. A hand held global positioning system (GPS) receiver was used to determine the latitude and longitude of the initial impact point. The initial impact point was located at 43 degrees 24.047 minutes north latitude and 101 degrees 10.541 minutes west longitude. The wreckage was distributed in a fan shaped pattern from about 080 to 130 degrees magnetic from the initial impact point. The furthest piece of wreckage was located about 540 feet and 115 degrees magnetic from the initial impact point. The engines and propellers were found adjacent to the initial impact point. The propeller hubs were about 11/2TO 2 feet below ground level. The empennage was found about 280 feet and 115 degrees magnetic from the initial impact point. The horizontal and vertical stabilizers remained attached to the aft fuselage section. The rudder was found separated from the vertical stabilizer and was located about 50 feet from the empennage piece. The right elevator remained attached to the horizontal stabilizer. The left elevator was separated from the horizontal stabilizer and was broken at about mid-span. Both wing tips along with numerous pieces of wing skin and spar material were found at the accident site. Pieces of all of the wing control surfaces were found at the accident site. The landing gear was determined to be in the down position. The wing flaps were determined to be in the up position. The aircraft was subsequently moved to an airport hangar where a partial reconstruction was performed. The reconstruction confirmed that all of the aircraft control and flying surfaces were present at the accident site. An inspection of the control system components was performed. Due to the extent of damage to the aircraft, the pre-impact continuity of the control system could not be determined. All identified control system breaks exhibited signatures consistent with overload failure. Both engine cases were broken and fragmented due to impact forces. The right crankshaft was broken at the forward crankshaft throw. The forward portion of the crankshaft remained attached to the propeller hub. The left engine crankshaft was broken just aft of the propeller mounting flange. The break exhibited signatures consistent with torsional overload. Both propellers were found within the impact craters at the accident site. The right propeller had one blade still attached. The other propeller blade had separated at the blade root and was also located within the impact crater. The left propeller was found with both blades still attached. All four of the propeller blades exhibited varying degrees of s-bending. (-23) the pilot and two passengers departed rapid city regional airport forthe norfolk, NE airport about 0930 February 19, 2001. The plane was reported missing on February 23, 2001. It was located on March 29, 2001 six miles southeast of Norris, SD. The pilot and both passengers were killed and the airplane was destroyed. The cause of the accident has yet to be determined.