20070209001919A

(-23) At approximately 1455Z, 08:55 CST, February 9, 2007, a twin engine Beech model H-18-S, N45GM, was destroyed when it impacted terrain, following a loss of control while maneuvering near the Great Bend Municipal Airport (kgbd), Great Bend, Kansas. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by bygone aviation LLC, (B3GA) guymon, Oklahoma, a CFR part 135 cargo operator. The aircraft was being operated on instrument flight rules and instrument flight plan from wichita, Kansas (kict) to Great Bend, Kansas. The airplane transport pilot, who was the sole aircraft occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft terrain impact site was approximately 1/2 mile southwest of kgbd airport runway 11-29, 38 degrees 20.415 minutes north latitude and 98 degrees 52.462 minutes west longitude, at an elevation of approximately 1900 feet mean sea level (MSL). Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) existed at the time of the accident. According to preliminary air traffic control information, Kansas city air route traffic control center (ARTCC), ahd cleared the pilot for an instrument landing system (ILS) runway 35 approach to the Great Bend Municipal Airport (i-gbd), and the pilot acknowledged the approach clearance. At the outer marker on the ILS runway 35 approach (babsy), ARTCC approved the pilot for a frequency change, to the common traffic advisory frequency at gbd. The pilot acknowledged the frequency change and ARTCC had no additional communication with the pilot. Great Bend, Kansas AWOS weather data: kgbd 091435Z 03004KTS 1 3/4 sm OVC004 M05/M06 A3037 rmk A01. Witness statement: a witness was fueling an airplane when he heard the Beech 18. He looked up and the Beech 18 was approximately 200' above runway 11-29, heading northwest about half the distance down the runway, climbing and turning slightly to the south. The airplane disappeared into the clouds and when he next saw it, with wings level, nose was pitched down about 20 degrees and heading to the southeast. The airplane disappeared below the hangars, from the line of sight of the witness, and when it did not come back up, they quit fueling and drove the south end of the runway (17-35), however, they could not see anything. The wreckage was found about 15 minutes later, where it came to rest in an upright position, on a level wheat field, at the Great Bend Municipal Airport. Post accident information: accident site: location, approximately 1/2 mile southwest of middle of runway 11/29 kgdb, on a heading of approximately 240 degrees, no fire, 38 degrees 20.415 minutes north latitude and 98 degrees 52.462 minutes west longitude, elevation approximately 1,900'. Landing gear extended. Freight weight was approximately 670 pounds. ELT activated: dm #2493, battery due 11-07. There were fragments of the wreckage in a close perimeter of the main wreckage. There were no significant ground impact marks except in the immediate vicinity of the wing leading edges, engines and propeller assemblies. An antenna on top of the aircraft, horizontal, and vertical stabilizer appeared to have 1/4 to 1/2 inch of clear ice. The forward cockpit, fuselage, left and right wing leading edges were crushed upward and aft. The right wing tip was found on the left aft side of the wreckage. The landing gear was found in the extended position. There were fragments of the wreckage in a close perimeter of the main wreckage site. There was no known damage to persons or property on the surface except growing wheat at the impact site. Aircraft was destroyed. Time of accident: approximately: 1455Z, 08:55 CST.