20020117000139A

(.19) On January 17, 2002, approximately 2113 central standard time, a Beech C23 single engine airplane, N6622X, impacted trees and terrain following the controllers issuance to execute the published missed approach instructions for the vordme 14 approach at the Sinton San Patricio County Airport (T69), Sinton, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot, under 14 code of federal regulations part 91. The private pilot received fatal injuries. The airplane was destroyed by a post impact fire. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed with fog restricting the visibility, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The personal flight departed the angelina county airport (lfk), lufkin, Texas, approximately 1805. According to local authorities, personnel at lfk, and the grand prairie municipal airport (gpm), grand prairie, Texas, the pilot flew the airplane from T69 on January 16th, 2002, and arrived at lfk approximately 1830 for an angel flight. The following morning the airplane was refueled with 20 gallons. Approximately 0900, three passengers boarded the airplane and the flight departed lfk. The angel flight airplane arrived at gpm approximately 1000, and deplaned the passengers. At gpm, the airplane was refueled with 19.4 gallons, and that afternoon, approximately 1700, the pilot and three passengers boarded the airplane for the return flight to lfk. Between 1600 and 1730, the airplane arrived at lfk where the passengers deplaned. Subsequently, the airplane was refueled with 15 gallons, and one quart of oil was added to the engine. At 1751, the pilot received a weather briefing from the conroe afss and filed an IFR flight plan. At 1805, the pilot received the IFR clearance via "V407 to daisetta, then as filed (direct shoales, V70, psx, V13, crp, direct T69), climb and maintain 5,000." Subsequently, the assigned en route altitude was 8,000 feet MSL. At 1816, houston ATC established radar contact with the aircraft. At 2000, the airplane was cleared direct to the corpus christi (crp) VORTAC and then direct T69. At 2025, the airplane was cleared to descend to 6,000 feet MSL. At 2042, the pilot was instructed to contact the crp approach controller who issued the pilot crp weather: wind 120 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 10, clouds 25,000 scattered, temperature 20 degrees celsius, dew point 19 degrees celsius, and the altimeter 30.02 inches mercury. Subsequently, the pilot requested and received a clearance direct to T69. The airplane was cleared to descend at pilot's discretion, maintain 2,000 feet, and the pilot was told there was fog reported about 5 miles north of crp. The pilot requested the VOR 14 approach to T69 and received vectors for the approach. When the airplane was 5 1/2 miles from the initial approach fix (panth), the pilot received the approach clearance: turn left heading 165 degrees, maintain 2,000 feet MSL until the airplane is established on the final approach course, cleared for the vordme runway 14 approach Sinton San Patricio County Airport (T69). Approximately 2107, radar contact was lost with the aircraft at an altitude of 1,900 feet MSL. Approximately 2112, the pilot transmitted "corpus approach sundowner 6622 x-ray can't find the airport." The controller instructed the pilot to execute the published missed approach instructions maintain 2,000, continue the transponder squawk 4601, and asked the pilot for his next request. Approximately 2113, the pilot transmitted "I've got it, I've got the strobe under me now sir." The controller requested if the airplane was landing and the pilottransmitted "affirmative sir I got the strobe." The controller asked the pilot if he was canceling IFR, the pilot transmitted "no sir just a minute stay with me please sir." There were no further communications with N6622X. Witnesses near the airport reported hearing the airplane "flying extremely low and making a very loud whirling sound." Further, within a few minutes witnesses reported hearing a "loud boom", the sound of an "explosion", and "fire." Approximately 2117, one witness, traveling in a her vehicle on the road adjacent to the airport, called 911 and reported an airplane on fire at the airport. Local authorities, who responded to the accident site, reported the winds were from the south/southeast at 6 knots, with "floating fog and mist in the vicinity of the airport." At 2151, the weather observation facility at crp reported wind from 120 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clouds 500 scattered, 25,000 broken, temperature 19 degrees celsius, dew point 19 degrees celsius, altimeter 30.03 inches of mercury. At 2200, the weather observation facility at crp reported wind from 120 degrees, visibility unrestricted, 500 scattered, 25,000 scattered, temperature 19 degrees celsius, dew point 19 degrees celsius, altimeter 30.03 inches mercury. The accident site at 28 degrees 02.07 minutes north latitude and 097 degrees 32.76 minutes west latitude was along a fence bordering the west side of the airport and adjacent cow pasture. The terrain at the accident site was level and consisted of hard, dry dirt, with sparse vegetation. The airplane came to rest on a measured magnetic heading of 284 degrees. The wreckage distribution path was along a measured magnetic heading of 162 degrees for a distance of 169 feet from a grove of trees at the initial impact point. The left horizontal stabilizer, and the nose landing gear were found near the base of two trees, and the left wing tip with the red navigation light was found approximately 20 feet AGL in another tree. The trunks of three trees were found broken approximately 20-25 feet AGL with numerous branches scattered along the wreckage distribution path. The right horizontal stabilizer was found along the wreckage distribution path approximately 81 feet beyond the initial impact point. The left cockpit door was found 55 feet west of the main wreckage. The right wing tip and the landing light lens were found in and along a ground scar parallel to the fence line running north from the outboard right wing which remained attached to the main wreckage. The cockpit and fuselage were destroyed, and there were no complete systems intact at the accident site. (-23) after missed approach, the pilot did a go around at a low altitude. The aircraft struck three oak trees. The aircraft was engulfed in fire fatally injuring the pilot. No NMAC.