ATL02LA131

An airplane impacted the runway shortly after takeoff. According to the pilot, the airplane rolled sharply to the left immediately after liftoff from the runway. The passenger in the back seat stated the airplane banked sharply to the left after takeoff. The pilot then applied right rudder and aileron to stop the roll. Unable to level the airplane with the horizon, the pilot elected to reduce power to idle on both engines and land on the remaining runway. The airplane impacted the runway, slid into the grass and erupted into flames.

On June 26, 2002, at 0800 eastern daylight time, a Beech 18, N1002C, registered to Eagle Point, Inc. and operated by the private pilot, impacted runway 22 shortly after takeoff from Venice Municipal Airport in Venice, Florida. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with a flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot, pilot-rated passenger, and one additional passenger were not injured. The airplane was destroyed, and there was a post-impact fire. The flight departed Venice, Florida, at 0800 with a destination of Cancun, Mexico.

According to the pilot, the airplane rolled sharply to the left immediately after liftoff from the runway. The passenger in the back seat stated that the airplane rolled to almost a knife-edged attitude. The pilot then applied right rudder and aileron to stop the roll. Unable to level the airplane with the horizon, the pilot elected to reduce power to idle on both engines and land on the remaining runway. The airplane impacted the runway, slid into the grass and burst into flames.

The passenger stated that the airplane sounded "normal" during takeoff. The passenger stated, " shortly after liftoff the airplane banked sharply left and the ground was visible through the widow seat". The pilot corrected to the left to attempt to put the airplane into a level attitude; but the airplane collided with the terrain.

Examination of the wreckage revealed the airplane had been destroyed by a post-impact fire. Both engines had separated from the airplane. The left wing melted, and the fuel tanks were fire damaged. The fuselage burned and melted from approximately one foot behind the nose of the aircraft to just ahead of the exit door. Both propellers showed chordwise marks and were curled around at the tips. The main landing gear had separated from the airplane and were found behind the airplane. The horizontal stabilizer on the left side had the leading edge crushed in an upward position and the vertical stabilizer was crushed on the lower edge. The right wing was leaking fuel and there was no fire damage.