20171224024589A

On Saturday December 24, 2017 aircraft N247AT filed an IFR flight plan from Bartow municipal airport (kbow) to key west airport (keyw). Weather condition visual estimates were reported to be ¼ mile and 300 ft. with a density altitude of 54 ft. pilot request airport ground crew to tow his aircraft to the ramp because he didn?t want to taxi next to the hangars with the reduced visibility due to dense fog. The five occupants boarded the plane inside the hangar and remained inside the airplane during the tow. The pilot then very slowly taxied the airplane from the ramp to the end of runway 9L where the engine run-up was completed. The ground crew then heard the airplane takeoff and proceed to the east. The aircraft departed from kbow runway 9L, which was 4460 ft. in length from taxiway C2, at 07:17 EST and crashed immediately after take off. Another pilot estimated that the runway visual range, at that time, was 600 to 800 ft. due to the fog. Aircraft did not become airborne until somewhere near the end of the runway. The airplane impacted the ground 1500 ft 45 degrees left of the end of runway 9L, in an inverted and near vertical, ~100° nose low attitude. Right wing rotated to approx 200 degrees to the left. Aircraft came to rest 100 ft 60 degrees from imact facing 180 degrees from departure direction. Aircraft was completely destroyed by impact and fire. Empenage remained intact. Propellors were sheared off with the crankshaft flange buried flat in the soil. The main landing gear was retracted but the nose gear was thrown 250? In a northerly direction. One engine came to rest outbord and aft of left wing and one next to front pax seat. All persons on board suffered fatal injuries. Control tower was closed.

An FBO employee video taped the aircraft from the ramp, at approximately midfield, of the run-up and take off. Video does not show the aircraft due to the poor visibility, but the audio is clear. The audio of the engine indicate no engine problems. Video stopped 2-3 seconds before crash. Airport personnel were on the scene immediately. Polk county sheriff also responded. The aircraft was owned by the pilot. Aircraft fuel was topped off the day before then flown for 30 minutes. Estimated weight and balance calculations put the aircraft 102 lbs. Over gross with a c.g. of 154.4 at the time of takeoff. Video recording audio indicate the engines were running normally at power. Ram conversion flight manual supplements performance chart indicated the aircraft lift off speed of 86 KIAS, ground roll of 1550 ft. and 2070 ft. to clear a 50 ft. obstacle. Runway 9L has a length of 4460 ft from taxiway C2.