ATL03FA136

A pilot who was holding short for takeoff on runway 5 behind the accident airplane stated the accident airplane became airborne just past taxiway "C" intersection. The airplane reached about 10 feet when the nose dropped down abruptly to the right, the airplane collided with the runway, and bounced back into the air. The pilot observed a dark shape on the right side of the airplane and concluded the accident airplane cabin door had opened. The accident airplane was observed to make a shallow crosswind turn to the left, nose high, at a slow airspeed. The pilot stated he called the accident pilot on the airplane radio and asked if he was ok. The accident pilot stated he had problems and was going to make an emergency landing followed by, " I am not going to make it." A witness on the ground stated he observed the airplane make a steep left bank estimated between 40 to 45 degree angle of bank. The airplane collided with a tree, rolled to the left, pitched nose down, hit a power line and collided with the ground. A post crash fire ensued. Examination of the crash site revealed the airplane collided with a tree and the ground. The cabin door lock was not locked. The right propeller blade tips were curled aft and all three-propeller blades on the left engine sustained minimal impact damage. No anomalies were noted with the left and right engine assembly.

History of flight

On September 6, 2003, at 1420 eastern daylight time, a Beech BE-55, N62JF, registered to Gwinnett Plane Leasing, Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with trees while attempting to return to the Winder Barrow Airport, Winder, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed and there was a post crash fire. The private pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from Winder, Georgia, at 1419 on September 6, 2003.

A pilot waiting for takeoff behind the accident airplane stated the accident pilot departed from runway 05 and became airborne past taxiway "C" intersection. The airplane reached about 10 feet when the nose dropped down abruptly to the right and the right main landing gear touched down on the runway followed by tire smoke. He observed a dark shape on the right side of the airplane and figured the cockpit door had opened. The airplane bounced back into the air and went to the right over the grass. The pilot regained control of the airplane. The airplane remained between 20 to 50 feet and slowly cleared a tree line beyond the end of the runway. The airplane started a shallow crosswind turn to the left, nose high at a slow airspeed. He called the pilot on the UNICOM frequency and asked the pilot if he was ok. The pilot stated, "I got problems and I am going to make an emergency landing." The pilot came back on the radio again and stated, "I am not going to make it." The witness pilot stated he lost sight of the airplane and observed smoke come up above the tree line a short time later.

Two witnesses located in the immediate vicinity of the crash site stated they heard an airplane approaching their location. The airplane engine or engines were making an unusual sound described as a loud noise. One witness stated the airplane was between 100 to 150 feet above the ground. The airplane made a steep left bank estimated between 40 to 45 degrees angle of bank. The airplane hit a tree, rolled to the left, pitched nose down, hit a power line and collided with the ground. The airplane continued to roll and slide to the left before it came to rest inverted, and caught on fire. One witness stated he ran over to the airplane located in his front yard and tried to gain entry to remove the pilot. The fire and smoke prevented him from assisting the pilot.

Personnel information

Review of information on file with the FAA Airman's Certification Division, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, revealed the pilot was issued a private pilot certificate on May 19, 1998, with ratings for airplane multiengine engine land, airplane single engine land, and instrument airplane. The pilot held a third class medical issued on March 6, 2003 with no limitations. The pilot's last biennial flight review was conducted on June 14, 2003.The pilot wrote on his application for the third class certificate that he had accumulated 900 total flight hours. According to a representative from Nation Air Insurance Agency, Lawrenceville, Georgia, the pilot completed an application for insurance on January 2, 2003. The pilot reported he had 890.9 total flight hours with 220 hours in make and model, and 224 multiengine hours. The pilot had 643 total hours in retractable airplanes. The pilot had flown 39 hours in the last 12 months, and 16 hours in the last 90 days. A pilot logbook was located in the wreckage. The last entry in the logbook was May 22, 1994.

Aircraft information

The airplane logbooks were not located at the crash site. According to the deceased pilot's partner the aircraft records were in the airplane that was destroyed by a post crash fire. Review of a Work Order No.19300 from Georgia Avionics Inc., Winder, Georgia, showed an Apollo CNX80 GPS was installed on the airplane on September 4, 2003.

Meteorological information

The nearest weather reporting facility at the time of the accident was Winder Barrows Airport, Winder, Georgia. The 1416 surface weather observation was: clear, visibility 10 miles, temperature 75 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point temperature 63 degrees Fahrenheit, wind 050-degrees at 6 knots, and altimeter 30.09.

Wreckage and impact information

The Winder Barrow Airport Runway 05 is 3,610 feet in length and 100 feet wide. The displaced threshold hold begins 992 feet 6 inches from the approach end of the runway. Examination of the runway revealed the right main landing gear touched down on the runway 1,533 feet from the displaced threshold. The nose wheel tire touched down 1,537 feet from the displaced threshold. The left main landing gear touched down 1,545 feet from the displaced threshold. All tire marks were adjacent to taxiway E. Fourteen propeller blade marks were present on the runway. The first propeller blade strike was located 1,568 feet 5 inches from the displaced threshold. The distance between the first and second propeller strike on the runway measured 15 inches. The distance between the 13th and 14th strike mark measured 20 inches. An Apollo CNX80 Quick Reference Guide was located on the runway edge between the propeller strike marks and taxiway E. The runway remaining from the first propeller strike was 1,978 feet 9 inches.

The wreckage was located in the front yard of a residence at 791, Georgia Highway 82 in the vicinity of Winder, Georgia. The airplane was located about one-half mile north northeast of Winder Barrows Airport.

Examination of the crash site revealed a tree located in the front yard of a residence located at 807 Georgia Highway 82 was damaged. Tree branches in the immediate vicinity exhibited 45-degree "V" cuts. The left wing of the airplane was separated and located 30 feet 4-inches down the debris line. The left flap separated and was located 52 feet 10-inches down the debris line. A power line that crossed Highway 82 was separated 63 feet 8-inches down the debris line. The right wing tip collided with the ground 166 feet 6-inches down the debris line and 13 feet 6-inches south of Highway 82.The right propeller assembly separated from the right engine and was found 173 feet 1-inch down the debris line. Three left propeller strikes were present on Highway 82, 176 feet 8-inches, 180 feet 3-inches, and 184 feet, 1-inch down the debris line. The left propeller separated from the right engine. Browning and scorching of trees was present on trees on the south side of Highway 82, and on the asphalt surface of the highway. The nose cone separated and was 245 feet 5-inches down the debris line. The nose landing gear separated and was located 264 feet 4-inches down the debris line. The airplane came to rest inverted in the front yard of a residence located at 791 Highway 82 on a heading of 315-degrees magnetic. The crash debris line extended 296 feet 1-inch.

Examination of the crash site revealed the nose section was fire damaged from the nose cone to the aft end of the passenger compartment. The cabin door received fire damage. The interior door handle was pointing in the 10 o'clock position. The upper door latch hook was intact and extended. The upper latch hook receptacle was not damaged. The aft door-latching bolt was extended 9/16". In the fully closed position the latch bolt would be protruding 7/8" as compared to a Beechcraft Bonanza BE-35 cabin door. The external cabin door handle was protruding 7/16" from the stowed or closed position. The aft door latch bolt striker plate was not located. The nose gear was extended. The nose gear and the trunnion mount bulkhead were separated from the fuselage. The flight control cables were intact from the control column down to a location below the floorboards under the pilot's feet.

The right wing was inverted and located next to the fuselage. The wing attachment bolts and fittings were intact. The right main fuel tank and auxiliary fuel tank were ruptured and fire damaged. The right wing flap was attached to the rear spar and in the retracted positi