20061202028989A

(-23) History of flight: on December 2, 2006, about 1245 standard time, a smith Aerostar 601P, N9797Q, was destroyed when it impacted the ground in West Dover, Vermont, less than one mile southeast of the mount snow airport after executing a go around to runway 1 at that airport. The wreckage was not discovered until the next morning December 3, 2006. The certificated commercial pilot received fatal injuries. The burlington afss found 2 pilot briefings and a flight plan filed on December 1, 2006. No data was found for the flight from white plains, new york (hpn) to mount snow airport (4V8). Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91. The accident occurred during the hours of daylight, approximately 42 degrees, 55.343 minutes north latitude, and 72 degrees, 51.473 west longitude. Pilot information: the pilot holds a commercial pilot certificate with rating for airplane multiengine land, airplane single engine land, instrument airplane, type rating(s) MS-760. His most recent federal aviation administration (FAA) second class medical was issued on September 30, 2005. The pilot had accrued approximately 14000 hours of flight time. Aircraft information: the aircraft was up for sale. Aircraft logbooks and maintenance records were on board the aircraft and destroyed by the post crash fire. Meteorological information: weather at the closest airport with a weather data source (ASOS) is william h. morse state airport, bennington, Vermont, located approximately 17 nautical miles from the crash site. Weather at bennington, Vermont (kddh) METAR at 1754Z or 1254 local, included winds from 240 at 9 knots, gusts 20 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, overcast 4,800 feet, temperature 4 degrees c, dewpoint minors 7 degrees c, and a barometric pressure of 30.04. Wreckage information: the wreckage was examined at the accident by NTSB, FAA, Piper and Lycoming air safety investigator on December 4, 2006. All major components of the airplane were accounted for at the scene. The airplane impacted a wooded area, less than one mile southeast of the airport and came to rest at an elevation of approximately 1900 feet above mean sea level. The airplane path was oriented on a heading of 100 degrees magnetic. The point of initial impact appeared to be three large birches of a pine tree with a height of approximately 150 feet and roughly 500 feet away from the final impact point. The debris field included the right wing tip included the right fueling cap, part of the bottom of the right engine cowling was located 250 feet from the impact site. The air intake was located 5 feet from the right engine cowling. The right engine intercooler was located 100 feet to the left of the flight path. The left wing tip was located 35 feet from the main wreckage. At some point the aircraft went inverted. Tree impact damage was noticed along the flight path. Several trees received fire damage. The main wreckage consisted of both engines and part of the wings which were inverted, the cockpit, which was burnt and upright, along with the empennage. The airplane was oriented approximately 180 degree magnetic. The whole airplane was consumed by a post crash fire. The engines were intact, but sustained fire and impact damage.