CHI97FA220

The pilot and passengers departed the Spirit of St. Louis Airport and flew to Springfield Regional Airport, a 50 to 60 minute flight. The fuel on board was about 25 to 30 gallons in the left wing tanks, and 75 to 80 gallons in the right wing tanks. Each engine burned about 25 to 30 gallons per hour. The airplane was not fueled prior to the return flight. About five minutes after takeoff, the airplane had reached 4,300 feet msl (3,033 feet agl) and began a 402 fpm descent. The airplane continued the descent away from the airport for about 7 nm before turning 180 degrees to the left. The airplane had descended to 2,200 feet msl (933 feet agl) and was 10 miles from the airport. The pilot reported to the controller that he had a '...partial engine failure on the left side.' The airplane impacted the ground in an inverted, vertical nose down attitude. The landing gear were down at impact. Neither propeller was feathered. The right wing, right engine, fuselage, and empennage received extensive fire damage. The left wing was consumed by fire between the nacelle and the wing root. The remaining left wing, left nacelle, and engine were not destroyed by fire. Examination of the engines and airframe did not reveal any pre-existing anomalies that prevented normal operation. The Airplane Flight Manual did not contain procedures which explained fuel crossfeeding procedures in case of fuel exhaustion to a wing's fuel tanks.

History of Flight

On July 20, 1997, at 1630 central daylight time (All times CDT), a Beech B-60, N3359P, was destroyed when it impacted terrain two miles northeast of the Springfield/Branson Regional Airport, Springfield, Missouri. The pilot reported that he was having engine problems and he attempted to return to the airport. The airline transport pilot, a pilot rated passenger, and two passengers received fatal injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed the Springfield/Branson Regional Airport en route to the Spirit of St. Louis Airport, Chesterfield, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan had been filed.

The airplane had departed the Spirit of St. Louis Airport about 0930 and landed at the Springfield/Branson Regional Airport about 1020. The pilot did not request aircraft servicing or fuel. Later that day the pilot and passengers returned and prepared for departure.

An aircraft service lineman at the Springfield/Branson Airport reported that the pilot in the left seat "could have been heavy set" and was wearing a dark tee shirt. The autopsy indicated that the pilot was wearing a knit navy blue and green shirt and weighed over 250 pounds.

At 1610, the pilot called the ground controller and obtained taxi instructions for a VFR flight back to the Spirit of St. Louis Airport. The pilot received taxi instructions for a runway 22 takeoff.

At 1615, the airplane departed and turned on course to the Spirit of St. Louis Airport.

Radar data indicated that the airplane departed to the northeast after takeoff. The first radar "hit" was at 1619:58 and the airplane was about 3.5 nm to the southeast of the field at 2,800 feet mean sea level (msl) and climbing at a rate of 750 fpm.

At 1621, the airplane was about 5 nm east of the airport at 4,300 feet msl. The airplane was about 3,033 feet above ground level (agl).

Witnesses reported that they heard a twin engine airplane with engine problems at about 1615. The location of the witnesses when they observed the airplane was about three miles east of the Springfield Regional Airport. The witnesses reported hearing the airplane's engine/s sputtering, cutting out, or backfiring. They reported seeing the airplane flying, wings level, to the northeast.

At 1621:34, the radar data indicated that the airplane had started a descent on a northeasterly heading. The average rate of descent was about 402 fpm.

At 1624:59, the airplane's altitude was 2,800 feet msl and about 12 nm to the northeast of the airport, about 7 nm further to the northeast from the initial descent point.

At 1624:59, the airplane started a left hand descending turn. The radar data indicated that the airplane made a 180 degree turn and was heading to the southwest.

At 1626.35, the last radar hit on the airplane indicated that it was at 2,200 feet msl and about 10 miles to the northeast of the airport. The airplane was about 933 feet agl.

At 1626:38, the pilot contacted the Springfield local air traffic controller. At 2126:41 the pilot reported, "Yes, sir, we need to return to the airport."

At 2126:54, the controller directed the pilot to fly a 210 degree heading and informed the pilot that he would sequence the airplane in for landing behind a Beech 1900 that was fifteen miles out from the airport.

At 2127:13, the pilot responded, "Okay, ah, we may, ah, not be able to do that. We're going to let you know here in just a minute."

At 2127:18, the controller asked, "Are you experiencing any difficulties?" The pilot responded, "Yes, sir."

At 2127:21, the controller asked, "Can you give me any, ah, information right now?"

At 2127:23, the pilot responded, "Ah, negative. Stand by a minute."

At 2148:49, the pilot informed the controller that, "...ah, we've got a partial engine failure on the left side. We're going to have to limp it on in."

At 2128:54, the controller told the pilot, "Okay, go straight in to runway two zero, sir." The pilot acknowledged landing runway 20.

At 2129:22, the controller asked, "Duke, ah five niner poppa, you want the equipment?"

At 2129:25, the pilot responded, "Ah, not at this point. We're gonna see if we can't make the airport here."

At 2129:36, the controller cleared the airplane to land on runway 22.

At 2129:39, the pilot responded, "Okay, we don't have the airport."

At 2129:41, the controller asked, "Okay, what's your heading?"

At 2129.42, the pilot said, "Isn't going to work. We're gonna have to put it down."

At 2129:44, the controller asked, "Your landing at your present position?"

At 2129:46, the pilot responded, "Ah yeah. We're looking for a field down here."

At 2129:49, the controller responded, "All right, sir. Thank you very much."

There were no further communications from the pilot.

Witnesses reported seeing a twin engine airplane flying to the southwest at a low altitude at about 1630. The location of the witnesses was about .5 to 1.5 miles to the northeast of the accident site. The witnesses reported that they did not hear any backfiring or sputtering noises from the airplane's engines. They reported that both propellers were turning.

A witness reported that he saw the airplane flying through a valley about 1/8 mile to the east of his farmstead. He reported that the airplane was flying north to south "straight down the road." He reported that the airplane was flying 50 to 100 feet below the tree line but above the telephone poles. He reported that the airplane was level, the props were turning, the flaps and gear were up, and the noise sounded like full power. He reported that the engines were not sputtering. He reported that the airplane climbed 50 to 100 feet in order to clear the trees at the south end of the valley where the terrain was higher. The airplane went out of his field of view.

He reported that his wife saw the airplane momentarily. He reported that she saw the airplane get over the trees. She did not see any abrupt maneuvers.

A third witness reported he saw the airplane climb over the trees. He reported that the airplane missed the powerlines but was, "struggling to get over the powerlines." He reported that everything went up in flames. He reported that a little wind was blowing to the northeast. He reported that the local firefighters put out the grass fire, and that the airport firefighters put out the aircraft fire.

Personnel Information

The pilot was an airline transport rated pilot with single and multi-engine land ratings. He held a First Class medical certificate. He had a total of about 10,734 hours of flight time. 7,643 hours were in multi-engine aircraft. In the last 12 months he had logged 46 hours in the accident aircraft. The aircraft operator reported that the pilot initially began flying a B-60 in 1980, but logbooks covering that time period were not obtained.

The pilot was an employed pilot of the aircraft operator. The operator reported that the pilot was meticulous and conscientious in his approach to flying. He reported that the pilot had checked-out the four company pilots in the B-60.

The pilot rated passenger in the right seat of the airplane was an airline transport rated pilot with single and multi-engine land ratings. He held a First Class medical certificate. He had over 20,500 total flight hours.

The operator reported that the pilot rated passenger was a friend of the pilot. He reported that the pilot and pilot rated passenger were planning a fishing trip to Canada for the following week. He reported that the purpose of the flight to Springfield, Missouri, was a pleasure flight in order to purchase fishing equipment. The operator reported that the flight to Springfield was not an instructional flight or an indoctrination flight.

Aircraft Information

The airplane was a twin engine Beech B-60, Duke, serial number P4