What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On March 3, 2002, at 1350 CST, N7272D, a Beechcraft, model BE60, during takeoff from runway 18 at Limestone county airport, Mexia, Texas (lxy), failed to gain altitude, impacted numerous trees in a fence line starting at approximately 962 feet from the end of the runway to a stop at approximately 1220 feet from the end of the runway. The aircraft is owned by mapleleaf acquisitions, wilmington, de and was operated by dale l. lockart. Mr. Lockart received fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed by the post impact fire. The pilot took off on runway 18 with an approximate 11 knot, gusting to approximately 19 knot tail wind. There was substantial damage to approximately 260 feet of barbed wire fence and several trees were destroyed as a result of this accident. There were no injuries to persons on the ground. During the investigation, a hexagonal bolt, approximately 3 inches long was found in the control column, serving as a make-shift gust lock for the elevator and ailerons. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON MARCH 3, 2002, AT 1350 CST, N7272D, A BEECHCRAFT, MODEL BE60, DURING TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 18 AT LIMESTONE COUNTY AIRPORT, MEXIA, TEXAS (LXY), FAILED TO GAIN ALTITUDE, IMPACTED NUMEROUS TREES IN A FENCE LINE STARTING AT APPROXIMATELY 962 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY TO A STOP AT APPROXIMATELY 1220 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT IS OWNED BY MAPLELEAF ACQUISITIONS, WILMINGTON, DE AND WAS OPERATED BY DALE L. LOCKART. MR. LOCKART RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY THE POST IMPACT FIRE. THE PILOT TOOK OFF ON RUNWAY 18 WITH AN APPROXIMATE 11 KNOT, GUSTING TO APPROXIMATELY 19 KNOT TAIL WIND. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO APPROXIMATELY 260 FEET OF BARBED WIRE FENCE AND SEVERAL TREES WERE DESTROYED AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO PERSONS ON THE GROUND. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, A HEXAGONAL BOLT, APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES LONG WAS FOUND IN THE CONTROL COLUMN, SERVING AS A MAKE-SHIFT GUST LOCK FOR THE ELEVATOR AND AILERONS. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.