CHI05FA063

The twin-engine airplane was destroyed when it departed from cruise flight at 7,000 feet mean sea level (msl) in visual meteorological conditions and impacted the terrain in a wooded area. The fight was on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The airplane departed at 0838 eastern standard time. Radar track data indicated that altitude remained constant at 7,000 feet msl until 0919:42. At 0919:47, the radar data indicated the airplane was at 6,900 feet msl. At 0919:52, the radar data indicated the airplane was at 5,800 feet msl. At 0919:57, the radar data indicated the airplane was at 5,300 feet msl. At 0920:02, the radar data indicated the airplane was at 3,400 feet msl. No further radar contact with the airplane was recorded. The radar track data indicated that the airplane's heading and altitude went almost "straight down." Radar track data indicated the airplane impacted the terrain at about 300 knots true airspeed with about a maximum descent rate of 25,000-feet per minute. The descent angle of the airplane was about 70-80 degrees nose down. The main wreckage was localized at the impact crater. The engines, the cockpit and cabin, both wings, and the empennage were found in the impact crater. The cockpit was fragmented and destroyed by impact forces. Flight control continuity could not be established due to the destructive impact forces. All flight control cable breaks were consistent with overload fractures. The inspection of the airframe revealed no preexisting anomalies. Engine continuity and compression could not be established for the left and right engines due to impact forces. The engine inspections revealed no preexisting anomalies. The pilot had a total of 11,409 flight hours of which 4,589 hours were in multi-engine aircraft. The airplane seated six including the pilot's seat. The cabin was configured in "club" seating with the middle seats, located behind the pilot's seat, facing aft. The airplane was equipped with a "throw-over" control yoke. The medical examiner reported that the pilot was sitting in the left front pilot's seat, and two passengers were sitting in the second row of seats facing aft, and the other passenger was sitting in the third row of seats facing forward. Due to impact forces, the autopsies and toxicological examinations provided limited medical information.

History of flight

On February 4, 2005, at 0920 eastern standard time, a Beech BE-58, N12AZ, operated by Beech Leasing LLC, was destroyed when it departed from cruise flight and impacted the terrain in a wooded area 5 miles north of Niles, Michigan. The commercial pilot and three passengers received fatal injuries. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight departed County Memorial Airport (SBM), Sheboygan, Wisconsin, at 0738 central standard time and was en route to Lebanon-Warren County Airport (I68), Lebanon, Ohio. Ground fog was present in the area of the accident site, however, the airplane was in visual meteorological conditions at its cruise altitude prior to the time of the accident. The fight was on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan.

The pilot filed an IFR flight plan that indicated a departure time of 0730 central standard time at a cruise altitude of 7,000 feet mean sea level (msl). The filed airspeed was 175 knots with 1 hour 50 minutes en route to I68. He indicated he had 4 hours 45 minutes of fuel on board the airplane.

The flight departed SBM and proceeded on a southeasterly course. The flight was initially in radar and communications contact with Chicago Center, and then was handed off to South Bend Approach Control.

Radar track data indicated that between 0913:25 and 0918:55 (hhmm:ss), the airplane was on a constant heading of about 140 degrees at 7,000 feet msl. At 0918:55, the airplane made a heading change to about 135 degrees after receiving a heading change from South Bend Approach Control. At 0919:42, radar data indicated the airplane was still on a heading of 135 degrees at 7,000 feet msl.

The radar data indicated the average heading between 0919:47 - 0919:57 was about 135 degrees.

At 0919:47, the radar data indicated the airplane was at 6,900 feet msl.

At 0919:52, the radar data indicated the airplane was at 5,800 feet msl.

At 0919:57, the radar data indicated the airplane was at 5,300 feet msl.

At 0920:02, the radar data indicated the airplane was at 3,400 feet msl. No further radar contact with the airplane was recorded. The radar track data indicated the airplane impacted the terrain at about 300 knots true airspeed with about a maximum rate of descent of 25,000-foot per minute.

Witnesses reported hearing an airplane at a low altitude, but because of the ground fog they did not see the airplane descending or its impact with terrain. A search for the airplane commenced and the wreckage was found in a wooded area.

Personnel information

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with single-engine land and sea, multi-engine land, and instrument airplane ratings. He was a certificated flight instructor with single-engine, multi-engine, and instrument-airplane instructor ratings. He held a second class medical certificate. His medical examination was conducted on March 12, 2004. He had a total of 11,409 flight hours. 6,820 flight hours were in single-engine aircraft and 4,589 hours were in multi-engine aircraft. He had flown 55 hours in the last 90 days, 33 hours in the last 30 days, and 2.7 hours in the last 24 hours. He had flown the accident airplane 24 hours in the last 90 days, 16 hours in the last 30 days, and 2.7 hours in the last 24 hours. He worked as a flight instructor at a fixed base operator in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Beech Leasing LLC occasionally hired the pilot to fly N12AZ on business flights.

One of the passengers held a private pilot's certificate with single-engine, multi-engine, and airplane instrument ratings. He held a current Third Class medical certificate. His last medical examination was conducted on August 16, 2004. He reported his total flight time was 1,900 hours during his last medical examination. He had purchased N12AZ in November 2000. He sold the airplane to Beech Leasing LLC, which he was the controlling member, in November of 2004.

He and his brother, who was a passenger on board the airplane, were co-owners of a manufacturing plant located in Plymouth, Wisconsin. The third passenger was a vice-president of the firm. They were flying to Ohio on a business trip.

Aircraft information

The airplane was a 1970 twin-engine Beech BE-58 Baron, serial number TH-53. It had a maximum gross weight of 5,400 pounds that seated six. The cabin was configured in "club" seating with the middle seats, located behind the pilots' seats, facing aft. The airplane was equipped with a "throw-over" yoke and dual rudder pedals.

The airplane had a total time of 3,766 hours. The last annual maintenance inspection was conducted on November 4, 2004. It had flown 36 hours since the last annual inspection.

The engines were 285 horsepower Continental IO-520-C engines. The left engine had a total of 1,032 hours and had been installed on N12AZ on June 6, 1996. The right engine had a total of 37 hours and had been installed on N12AZ on October 19, 2004.

Meteorological information

At 0919, the surface weather observation at the South Bend Regional Airport (SBN), South Bend, Indiana, located about 13nm south of the accident site, was: Wind calm, 1/4 statute mile visibility, freezing fog, vertical visibility 200 feet, temperature -6 C, dew point -7 C, altimeter 30.36 inches of mercury, surface visibility 1/2 statute miles.

At 0920, the surface weather observation at the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport (BEH), Benton Harbor, Michigan, located about 20nm northwest of the accident site, was: Wind 140 degrees at 3 knots, 2 statute miles visibility, mist, clear, temperature -3 C, dew point -4 C, altimeter 30.34 inches of mercury.

Wreckage and impact information

The airplane impacted the terrain in a grove of trees in a small valley with about a 10-degree upslope. The coordinates of the wreckage site were 41 degrees 56.312 minutes north latitude, 086 degrees 13.428 minutes west longitude.

The airplane impacted a 75-100 foot tall oak tree that was over 3 feet in diameter at its base. The collision of the airplane and the tree separated four large tree limbs from the tree trunk and three major impact scars were exhibited in the upper branches of the tree. One of the downed branches exhibited a 45-degree cut with a gray paint transfer on it. The airplane impacted the rising slope about 30 feet southeast of the base of the tree on a heading of about 140 degrees magnetic. The descent angle of the airplane from the top of the tree to the impact crater was about 70-80 degrees nose down. The main wreckage was localized at the impact crater. The engines, the inboard sections of both wings, the cockpit and cabin, and the empennage were found in the impact crater. Dirt and aircraft debris were found for a distance of about 75 feet in a fan shaped pattern, primarily from the northeast to the southeast of the main wreckage. The right engine was found on the left side of the wreckage about 5-7 feet beneath the surface. The right propeller was broken from the engine flange. The left engine was found on the right side of the wreckage about 5-7 feet under the surface. The propeller remained attached to the engine except for one blade that was broken out of the propeller blade hub. The wings were oriented on about a 155/335 degree magnetic heading. The nose of the airplane was oriented on about a 065 degree heading. No evidence of a fire was found at the accident site.

The nose of the airplane was found fragmented within the impact crater. The fiberglass nose cone from the airplane was found shattered and resting on the snow around the accident site. Portions of the windshield frame were found at the accident site. There was no soot found on the inside of the plexiglass. The nose landing gear was found within the impact crater. The tire was torn and the nose wheel was fractured.

The cockpit was fragmented and destroyed by impact forces. The majority o