DEN02FA050

The pilot was an insurance agent and minister who had recently been arrested and indicted by the State of Colorado for felony theft with respect to his insurance practice. The pilot was released from custody after posting bail on May 3, 2002., and was scheduled to appear in court on June 26, 2002. On the day of the accident, the pilot sent several electronic mail messages to several members of his church congregation informing them that he was resigning as their minister and asking them for forgiveness for the "shame and reproach" he had brought on the church. The pilot's wife reported her husband missing the next afternoon, and the wreckage was located about four hours later. According to recorded radar data, a target was detected departing the airport area and proceeding towards a popular tourist attraction to the northeast. The target circled the area, then turned back towards the airport before disappearing. On-scene investigation disclosed no evidence of preimpact airframe, engine, propeller, or flight control failure/malfunction. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. All aircraft maintenance was current and up to date. The pathologist said "the manner of death is suicide," and the county coroner ruled the death as a suicide.

History of flight

On June 6, 2002, at 1845 mountain daylight time, a Beech M35, N9775R, registered to and operated by the pilot, was destroyed when the aircraft impacted terrain near Briggsdale, Colorado. The private pilot, the sole occupant on board was fatally injured. Day visual metrological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 91. The local flight originated in Greeley, Colorado, at 1821.

According to the Weld County Sheriff's report, the pilot's wife notified the Greeley Police Department on June 7 to report her husband missing. FAA was subsequently notified and the Denver Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) issued an ALNOT (alert notification) at 1338. The ALNOT indicated "possible destination Pawnee Buttes." The Civil Air Patrol launched an aerial search and the wreckage was located that afternoon. The ALNOT was cancelled at 1818.

The accident occurred during the hours of daylight at a location of 40 degrees, 43.96' North latitude, and 104 degrees, 12.38' West longitude.

Personnel information

The 46-year-old private pilot held an expired third class airman medical certificate, dated March 31, 2000.

The pilot's logbook was recovered from the wreckage and contained entries from March 7, 1977, when he first began taking flying lessons in Mountain Home, Arkansas, to January 24, 2002. The following summarizes his aeronautical experience (figure totals do not equate due to arithmetical errors):

By category:

Total time - 335.7

Night - 19.1

Actual instruments - 0.2

Simulated instruments - 80.3

Cross-country - 88.5

Dual instruction - 138.4

Pilot-in-Command - 227.4

By aircraft type:

Cessna 150 -- 12.2

Cessna 152 -- 6.3

Cessna 172 -- 220.7

Cessna 180 -- 1.0

Cessna 182 -- 19.3

Piper PA-28-181-- 4.5

Beech M35 -- 84.7

By year:

1977 -- 13.2

1986 -- 2.2

1987 -- 4.1

1998 -- 76.6

1999 -- 38.6

2000 -- 137.9

2001 -- 69.1

2002 -- 1.0

The pilot's wife said her husband purchased N9775R approximately 2 years prior to the accident. According to his logbook, the first M35 Bonanza entry was made on October 21, 2000. All flights made thereafter were in the M35 with the exception of his instrument flight instruction, which were made in Cessna 172s. His most recent flight review was accomplished in a Cessna 172 on July 26, 2001.

Aircraft information

The airplane, N9775R (s/n D-6297), a model M35, was manufactured by the Beech (now Raytheon) Aircraft Corporation in 1960. It was equipped with a Continental IO-470-C1B engine (s/n 072168-H), rated at 250 horsepower, and a Beech 2-blade, all-metal, constant speed propeller (m/n 278-100-7). It was equipped with two 25-gallon main fuel tanks and two 10-gallon auxiliary fuel tanks.

N9775R's maintenance records were located at a Greeley-Weld County Airport maintenance facility and examined. According to these records, the most recent annual inspection of the airframe, engine, and propeller was accomplished on May 3, 2002, at a tachometer reading of 211.8 hours. At that time, the airframe, engine, and propeller had accrued 5849.4, 2657.44, and 5849.4 total hours, respectively. The engine was last overhauled on February 22, 1993, and had accrued 783.5 hours since that time. The propeller was last overhauled on July 15, 1987, and had accrued 1250.9 hours since that time.

Meteorological information

The following Automatic Weather Observation Station (AWOS) were recorded at the Greeley-Weld County Airport, located 36 nautical miles southwest of the accident site. The observations were recorded 6 minutes before takeoff and 10 minutes after the accident:

(1815): Wind, 040 degrees at 5 knots; visibility, (greater than) 10 statute miles; sky condition, clear; temperature, 29 degrees C.; dew point, 3 degrees C.; altimeter, 29.93.

(1855): Wind, 110 degrees at 4 knots; visibility, (greater than) 10 statute miles; sky condition, clear; temperature, 29 degrees C.; dew point, 4 degrees C.; altimeter, 29.92.

Wreckage and impact information

The wreckage was located on flat, cactus-covered terrain at 4,967 feet msl. There was no evidence of fire. At the beginning of the initial ground scar, measuring 24 feet in length and aligned on a magnetic heading of 242 degrees, were small red lens fragments. Five slashes were noted in this scar at the 21-foot mark. In the last of these slashes was a separated propeller blade. Examination of the blade after removal disclosed forward bending approximately 10 degrees about midspan. Chordwise scratching was noted on the cambered surface.

At the end of this scar was a crater, approximately 4 feet long and 3 feet wide, containing pieces of engine cowling. The ground scar then curved to the left onto a magnetic heading of 198 degrees. Turning over a piece of exhaust pipe revealed scorched grass underneath. Various pieces of wreckage were strewn along this path for a distance of 209 feet, where the main body of wreckage was located. The empennage remained attached to the fuselage. The relatively undamaged ruddervators (the left ruddervator leading edge was punctured outboard of the trim tab) remained attached to the stabilizers and operated correctly when the cables were pulled. The ruddervator bushings were unremarkable. The pushrods remained attached, and the stops bore no evidence of flutter.

At the 105-foot mark was a large piece of red lens, identified as part of the top fuselage mounted rotating beacon. A large piece of engine cowling was located 75 feet left of the centerline. At the 123-foot mark were two parallel gouges in the ground, measuring 2 feet in length. At the 137-foot mark and 16 feet to the right of centerline was the left rear emergency exit window, and 10 feet ahead of it was the tail cone with intact white navigation light. At the 201-foot mark was the separated right cabin door. It was crushed from below and bulged outward. The door handle was down and locked and the latching pins were extended.

Approximately 21 feet left of centerline, the right wing lay on top of the left wing. The pitot tube and static port were unobstructed. The left wing was separated from the fuselage at the wing root and lay in several pieces. The aileron and flap were torn off the wing, but the aileron bellcrank and cables remained attached. The cables were traced to the cockpit area. The fuel tank was destroyed, but the fuel cap remained locked in the recess. The right wing was separated from the fuselage at the wing root. Except for the flap being torn off, the wing was intact, including the aileron, bellcrank, and wing tip. Both flap tracks remained attached to the flap. There was accordion-type crushing of the leading edge approximately 4 feet from the tip, resulting in wrinkles from the leading edge inboard to the trailing edge outboard. The fuel tank was compromised, but the fuel cap remained locked in the recess.

On a magnetic heading of 220 degrees and 122 feet from the main body of wreckage was the separated engine with intact crankshaft, flange, and propeller hub. The fuel control unit was separated from the throttle body, which was in the idle position. Most of the accessories were broken off, including the oil cooler and sump, both magnetos, alternator, starter, vacuum pump, and exhaust system. The induction system and fuel pump remained attached but were extensively damaged.

About 50 feet beyond and to the right of the engine was the second detached propeller blade. There was forward 90 degree bending about midspan, the cambered surface bore chordwise polishing and scratching, and the leading edge was gouged. About 45 feet beyond and slightly to the left of the engine was a main landing gear with squat switch still attached. The battery box was 33 feet beyond. On a magnetic heading of 181 degrees and 135 feet from the main body of wreckage was the pilot, still strapped in his seat via seat