CHI96FA002

A witness observed the airplane 'flying very low to the ground.' It 'all of a sudden turned to the left, clipped the left wing on the ground and crashed nose first.' The leading edges of the wings were compressed aft at an angle corresponding to a pitch attitude of about 135 degrees nose down. The propeller blades exhibited minor damage. The fuel selector was set to the right main tank feed position. All four fuel tanks were intact. The auxiliary tanks were full. 2.3 gallons of clear blue fuel was measured in the right main tank and 8 gallons in the left main tank. No fuel was located in the engine fuel lines or in the carburetor. The pilot's operating handbook specifies 3 gallons of unusable fuel in each main wing tank. Examination of the light bulb from the visual stall warning indicator revealed that the filament was stretched toward the base of the bulb.

History of flight

On October 6, 1995, about 1330 central daylight time, a Beech H- 35, N625T, was destroyed during a forced landing near Ozark, Missouri. The private pilot and one passenger sustained fatal injuries. The flight originated about 1130 in Tunica, Mississippi with a planned destination of Ozark, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was filed.

A witness observed the airplane "flying very low to the ground." It "all of a sudden turned to the left, clipped the left wing on the ground and crashed nose first."

Wreckage and impact information

The NTSB on-scene investigation began on October 7, 1995, about 0930. The wreckage was located in a field 278 degrees and .49 miles from the Air Park South Airport (2K2).

The wreckage path was located on a heading of 158 degrees. The first item in the path was a ground scar containing red lens fragments. 32 feet further, the propeller was located in a shallow crater. Fragments of green lens were located 51 feet from the first ground scar. Cockpit items, including the door, attitude gyro, vertical velocity indicator, glove box, and trim wheel, were scattered up to the main wreckage which was located 94 feet from the initial ground scar on a heading of 220 degrees. The outboard portion left wing was located on the west edge of the main wreckage. The leading edges of the wings were compressed aft at an angle corresponding to a pitch attitude of about 135 degrees nose down. The right wing was compressed aft at a thirty degree angle from midspan out to the tip. The left wing was fractured at midspan at a 45 degree angle. The forward fuselage and cabin area were compressed aft. The engine was separated from the mounts and was located next to the fuselage. The crankshaft was fractured just aft of the flange. The landing gear struts were in the extended position and the flaps were up.

The hub of the two bladed propeller was fractured on one side. One blade exhibited minor chordwise scratching on the front face near the tip of the blade. One blade was slightly bent and no leading edge damage was noted.

The fuel selector was set to the right main tank feed position. All four fuel tanks were intact. The auxiliary tanks were full. 2.3 gallons of clear blue fuel was measured in the right main tank and 8 gallons in the left main tank. Fuel could be manually pumped from each fuel tank to the firewall fuel line with the wobble pump. The pilot's operating handbook specifies 3 gallons of unusable fuel in each main wing tank.

Examination of flight control, engine, and engine control continuity revealed no evidence of malfunction. The spark plugs were of normal color. The ignition leads sparked when the magnetos were turned. No fuel was located in the engine fuel lines or in the carburetor. The carburetor fuel filter was slightly moist.

Examination of the light bulb from the visual stall warning indicator revealed the filament was stretched toward the base of the bulb.

Medical and pathological information

Autopsy of the pilot was conducted by Tri-Lakes Pathology, P. O. Box 1163, Branson, Missouri, 65616. Federal Aviation Administration toxicological testing was negative for all tests conducted

Additional information

Parties to the investigation were the Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office, Kansas City, Missouri, Beech Aircraft Corporation, and Teledyne Continental Motors.

Following the on-scene portion of the investigation, the wreckage was released to Mr. Dick Hill, the manager of Air Park South Airport, Ozark, Missouri.