20041021024859A

(-23) N3889B, a BE-35-F35, co-owned and registered to h.n. and patricia mccutchen, was based at the stillwater, ok airport, near the owner's residence of privacy data omitted Mr. Mccutchen was a certificated private pilot, certificate #448303700, with a valid 3rd class medical certificate dated 02/05/2004. The mccutchen's, along with friends, privacy data omitted had spend the week in tunica, ms visiting the sam's town casino. The ^privac^ returned home on 10/20/2004 by car. The mccutchen's stayed one more day in tunica, ms because weather was not suitable for a VFR flight home to stillwater, OK. On 10/21/2004 at 0917 local, Mr. Mccutchen received an abbreviated weather briefing from greenwood Mississippi fss. He was advised that IFR conditions existed along his entire route of flight until at least 1500 local. He inquired about conditions at 1230 local and was again advised weather was predicted to be around 1000' ceilings and VFR flight not advised or recommended. Mr. Mccutchen was not an instrument rated pilot. On 10/21/04 at approximately 11:00 local, Mr. Mccutchen called privacy data omitted of carson's air center located at tunica airport where N3889B was parked and requested them to top off the tanks on his aircraft N3889B. 27.1 gallons were added. At approximately 11:45 local, the sam's town casino limo service transported the mccutchen's to the tunica, ms airport. Upon their arrival at the tunica ms airport,privacy data omittedinformed Mr. Mccutchen that his aircraft (N3889B) had been leaking fuel from the left wing tank all week.privacy data omitted Said the leak made a spot approximately 2-3 feet wide by 4 feet long. Mr. Mccutchen told privacy data omitted that "he knew about the leak which is why he waited to just prior to departure to top off the tanks." On 10/21/04 at approximately 12:30 local, the mccutchen's departed VFR going direct to stillwater, OK. No flight plan was filed. At approximately 14:05 local, privacy data omitted a resident of rural Chester, AR heard an airplane flying not FAR from her house and fairly low. She said the engine went quiet for about 5 seconds then started up again then, 3 seconds later she heard a "thud." She went outside and looked around but didn't see anything. The weather was overcast skies. At approximately 15:30 local, privacy data omitted was driving around his property line, discovered the plan e crash of N3889B on the hillside approximately 200-300 yards from privacy data omitted the two people on board the airraft apparently died on impact. The crawford county sheriff's office were notified and on the scene at approximately 1615 local, to secure the area. The deputies that arrived on the scene were asked if any fuel smell was noted when they arrived and their answer was no. there was not any stain or evidence of fuel residue found at the scene. On 10/22/04 at approximately 1530 local, NTSB investigators aaron sauer and brannon mayer arrived on the scene to conduct their investigation, which is ongoing. FAA investigation was conducted by jim l. sager and karen gattis of the little rock flight standards district office.