20020914023959A

(.19) On September 14, 2002, at 0955 mountain daylight time, a Beech B19, N5119R, owned an operated by SID hall enterprises, inc., d/b/a southern aircraft sales of albany, Georgia, was destroyed when it impacted terrain and burned 2 miles north of Delta, Colorado. The private pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the ferry flight being operated under title 14 CFR part 91. The flight originated at Delta at 0953, and was en route to albany with unknown intermediate stops. Preliminary information indicates the airplane had undergone an annual inspection on August 22, 2002, its sale had recently been consummated, and the pilot had volunteered to ferry the airplane to albany. The airplane had been fueled to capacity (60 gallons). The pilot, carrying a flight bag and an overnight kit, boarded the airplane and taxied to the end of runway 03, where he performed pretakeoff checks. The airport manager said the magneto checks sounded normal, but as soon as the pilot added takeoff power, he "knew something was wrong." He said the engine did not sound like it was producing full power and the airplane was not accelerating. The airport manager said the airplane lifted off near the end of the 5,600-foot runway (1.5% uphill grade), flew in ground effect and barely cleared a barbed wire perimeter fence, then disappeared into a valley. Shortly thereafter he observed smoke. Witnesses on a golf course near the accident site said the engine was "sputtering." Examination of the airplane and accident site indicates the airplane struck the ground in a right wing and nose low attitude. Both wing fuel tanks were breached. The flaps on the fixed gear airplane were retracted. There was little evidence of propeller rotation. Continuity was established from the various control surfaces to the cockpit area. (-23) aircraft was departing runway 3 from the Delta, CO airport. Witnesses stated the aircraft taxied to the end of runway 3 and performed a mag check. As power was applied for takeoff the engine began to pop and continued to do so the entire length of the runway. The witnesses also stated the aircraft appeared not to be accelerating as it proceeded down the runway. When the aircraft reached the end of the runway it banked slightly to the left I nto a large canyon. The aircraft crashed approximately one mile off the end of the runway. On impact there was an explosion and fire. The engine was taken to beegles aircraft located in greley, CO. Where an NTSB tear down was accomplished. This teardown was witnessed by the NTSB and an FAA inspector from the denver FSDO. There were no significant findings.