20031019029349A

(-23) ON OCTOBER 19, 2003, ABOUT 1625 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A SHERRIF'S DEPUTY SAID HE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE DIRECTION OF THE MESQUITE AIRPORT, HE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND THE WRECKAGE OF AN AIRCRAFT BURNING. TWO OFF DUTY FIREMEN WERE FIGHTING THE FIRE WITH NO SUCCESS. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS A BEECH DEBONAIR, 35-C33, S/N CD-1004, N9438S WHICH HAD IMPACTED THE GROUND ABOUT 100 YRDS FROM THE AIRPORT PROPERTY ON THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 190. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OWNED BY VTB FLIERS LLC. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY POST IMPACT FIRE, LEAVING THE LEFT WING AND TAIL SECTION INTACT, THE INITIAL IMPACT WITH THE GROUND THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT A HEADING OF 200 DEGREES AND CAME TO REST 25 FEET FROM INITIAL IMPACT AT A HEADING OF 240 DEGREES AS THE AIRCRAFT HAD VERY LITTLE FORWARD MOMENTUM. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS TAKING INSTRUCTION FROM THE CO-PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. PRIOR TO THEM DEPARTING FROM HENDERSON AIRPORT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD FLOWN WITH ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AND TWENTY MINUTES IN THE SAME AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT REFUELED PRIOR TO THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT TO MESQUITE. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FROM HENDERSON AT 1500 AND COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN AT ABOUT 1625. IN TALKING WITH THE OWNERS OF THE AIRCRAFT IT WAS STANDARD FOR THEM TO KEEP 30 GALLONS IN EACH MAIN AND 6 GALLONS IN THE TIP TANKS FOR WEIGHT AND BALANCE PURPOSES. THE PILOT AND CO-PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES IN THE POST IMPACT FIRE. WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE NTSB CONDUCTED AN ENGINE TEARDOWN AND NO DEFICIENCIES WERE FOUND. THIS ENDS THIS INVESTIGATION.