20121006024809A

On 10/6/12 @ 0930CST, a Beechcraft A36 airplane, N32GP, impacted terrain during a descent near Mabank, Texas. The pilot, pilot rated passenger and two other passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed upon impact with no post fire event. The airplane was registered to palm-l aviation LLC and was operated by the pilot under an IFR flight plan iaw 14 CFR part 91 as a personnel flight. IFR was in effect during the flight which originated from the airplane's base at nw regional airport (52F) near roanoke, Texas @ approx. 0830 CST and was destined for fletcher field airport near clarksdale, Mississippi with an interim stop @ athens municipal airport (F44) near athens, Texas. According to preliminary ATC information the flight encountered weather @ F44 and requested a clearance to terrell municipal airport (trl) near terrell, Texas. The flight was provided a clearance to trl. ATC last reported radar return from the airplane was @ approx. 0945 CST @ a pressure altitude of 2,900 ft. no further radio TX were rx. At 0953 CST the recorded weather @ trl was: w 020 deg @ 10 KTS, vis. 10 statue miles; overcast clouds @ 600 ft; temp. 12 deg. C; dp 9 deg. C; alt. 30.16 hg. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airpane sel & inst. Airplane ratings. The pilot's most recent FAA 3rd class medical cert. Was issued on 8/31/11. The cert. Had a limitation for corrective glasses. At the time of the exam the pilot reported 340 hours total flight time and had accumulated no flight time during the six months prior to that. The pilot rated passenger held a private pilot certificate with a single engine land rating and a FAA thrid-class medical certificate issued on 3/26/12. The med. Cert. Had a limitation for corrective lenses. At the time of appl. He reported 130 hours of total flight time and had accumulated no flight time during the six months prior to that. The airplane was FAA registered as N32GP, a 1985 Beech A36 model, serial number E-2230. The airplane was a low wing , single engine, six place airplane powered by a rollsroyce 250-B17C turbine engine. The engine was coupled to a harzell three bladed propeller model HC-B3TF-7A.the airplane impacted a field located 1/2 mile east of FM90 & van zandt county road 2702 @ GPS coordinates cited in this report. A debris path started at an egg-shaped impact depression that was approx 12 ft long, 10 ft wide and 2 ft deep. The path continued on an observed heading of 300 deg. And extended about 200 ft. the aircraft was strewn along this path with a section of the fuselage coming to rest about 84 ft from the end of the impact zone and the engine coming to rest about 180 ft. from the end of the impact zone. The prop was found seperated from the engine. All major components of the airplane were accounted for @ the accident site. Observables inspected @ the accident site included flt control cables, l&r wing flap and ail trim tab actuators, landing gear linkage, fuel pump filter bowl, fuel shut-off valve, vacuum pumps, attitude and airspeed ind. And prop blades. All flt controls and cables appeared to have continuity. Flt control cables that were broken had a broom straw apprearance consistent with overload. The wing flap actuator jack screw and ail. Trim tab actuator measured & corresponded to retracted flaps and neutral trim. The ldg gear linkage was consistent with retracted position. Fuel was found in pump filter bowl and the selector valve was found open. Vacuum pump veins were exam. All veins intact and showing impact damage. Att. Ind. Was inspected with signs of core rotational scarring found. Two prop blades showed chordwise abrasion and one showing "s" bending consistent prop under power. Airspeed ind. Face showed "slap mark" @240KTS. Engine turbine compressor section showed rotational witness marks and the turbine shaft was sheared. Fuel on board was not able to be determined due to impact damage.