DFW06FA205

The 5,000-hour instrument rated commercial pilot lost control of the twin-engine airplane during initial takeoff climb and crashed into the ground. The pilot was departing the uncontrolled airport on runway 17 on a planned 525-nautical mile cross-county flight. Witnesses at the airport reported that the airplane assumed a pronounced nose high attitude and rolled left, followed by the nose dropping toward the ground until ground impact. The airplane impacted the ground with the landing gear and flaps retracted. The airplane was fully serviced with fuel. The fuel was found to be clean. An extensive examination of the airplane failed to reveal any anomalies with the airframe, structure, or systems. Flight control continuity was established at the accident site. The engines were sent to the manufacturer's facility for examination, and no mechanical anomalies were found. The propellers were also shipped to the manufacturer's facility for examination and teardown. Both propellers were rotating at a low blade angle and not feathered at the time of the impact. Blade damage was consistent with both propellers operating with power on at the time of the impact. No mechanical defects were noted with either propeller. No anomalies were found during the autopsy and toxicological tests were normal. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, with visibility in excess of 10 miles, and wind was from 140 degrees at 8 knots.

History of flight

On September 2, 2006, approximately 0755 central daylight time, a twin-engine Beech BE95 A-55 airplane, N181Y, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a loss of control during takeoff initial climb from the McGregor Municipal Airport (PWG), near McGregor, Texas. The airplane was registered to a private individual and the pilot. The instrument rated commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The 525-nautical mile cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for Norfolk, Virginia, with an intermediate fuel stop at the Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL), near Muscle Shores, Alabama.

Several witnesses located near the accident site reported observing the mishap and were interviewed by the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC).

The first witness, who was driving westbound on Highway 84 in front of a convenience store near PWG, reported that he observed an airplane at a low altitude in a slightly nose high attitude. The witness stated that the airplane suddenly pitched upwards and rolled into a very steep left turn. The airplane continued to descend into the ground in a left wing low attitude and "bursting into flames" upon ground impact. The witness added that he initially thought the airplane was a "crop duster" and added that at no time the airplane crossed south of Highway 84.

A second witness, who was also driving westbound on Highway 84 reported observing the airplane take off and was climbing out when the airplane "went into a hard bank to the left" and impacted the ground left wing first. The witness added that he did not see any smoke or flames originating from the airplane prior to it impacting the ground. After the airplane impacted the ground, the airplane "caught-on-fire and continued to skid across the open field."

A third witness, who reported being a professional pilot for a freight company, reported that while landing on runway 17, he observed the accident airplane holding short of the runway. The pilot rated witness added that while taxiing to the airport ramp, he observed the airplane performing what appeared to him a normal climb out. While the airplane was climbing through about 200 feet above ground level (agl), he observed the airplane suddenly pitch-upward and roll into a steep left bank. The witness stated that at no time did the airplane cross south of Highway 84, and it did not appear to him that the airplane was attempting to return to the airport. The witness added that he did not see the actual impact with the ground due to a hangar obstructing his view; however, he did observe that the "the airplane was trying to level the wings seconds before ground impact." The witness reported that he did not hear any radio communications on the Unicom frequency from the accident airplane.

The co-owner of the airplane visited the accident site. He reported that he had flown the airplane the day prior to the accidents and the airplane did not have any known operational deficiencies throughout the flight. The owner further reported that personnel at the FBO refueled the airplane for the planned cross-country flight the day prior to the accident, as requested. All four fuel tanks were reported to have been "topped off" with 100LL aviation fuel (143 gallons capacity).

A flight line technician, who refueled the airplane the day prior of the accident, was interviewed by the IIC. The line technician confirmed that all four fuel tanks were topped-off. The FBO verified that the fuel station sump and vessels were free of debris, and fuel samples that were extracted were bright and clean on September 6, 2006. The refueling truck that was used to refuel the airplane was also examined and a sample was extracted. The fuel sample was bright and clean. Also, the truck filter was found to be free of debris.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed but not activated prior to the flight. According to the filed flight plan, the proposed departure time was 0800 and the pilot had requested 7,000 feet for the initial assigned altitude, at a proposed true airspeed of 185 knots. The pilot was estimated arriving at MSL at 1058 that morning.

Personnel information

The 73-year old pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single and multi engine land, rotorcraft helicopter, and instrument airplane and helicopter. The pilot was issued a second-class medical certificate on December 7, 2005, with the restriction that the airman must wear corrective lenses and posses glasses for near and intermediate vision. The pilot reported on his last medical application that he had accumulated a total of 5,000 hours of flight time. The pilot was reported to have accumulated a total of 229-hours in the same make and model aircraft.

Aircraft information

The 1963-model, serial number TC-488, was a low wing, twin-engine airplane, configured for a maximum of 6 occupants, with a retractable landing gear. The airplane was powered by two Continental engines rated at 300 horsepower: left engine IO-520-ACE (converted from an A to an E), serial number 110354-4-A, and right engine IO-520-E, serial number 556396. According to airframe and engine logbooks, the airplane's most recent annual inspection was on August 30, 2006, with an airframe total time of 6,062.2 hours. The Hobbs meter read 531.4 hours. At the time of the last annual inspection, the records indicated that engine serial number 110354-4-A had 623.6 hours since major overhaul (TSMOH), and engine serial number 556396 had accumulated a total of 555.1 hours since major overhaul (TSMOH).

Meteorological information

At 0755, the automated surface observation system at PWG reported the wind from 140 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 4,000 feet, few clouds at 4,800 feet, scattered clouds at 7,000 feet, temperature 26 degrees Celsius, dew point 21 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.97 inches of Mercury.

Communication

According to personnel at the local fixed base operator (FBO) at PWG, no radio communications were received from the pilot of the accident airplane.

Aerodrone information

The McGregor Executive Airport is located 4 miles west of the City of Waco, Texas, at an elevation of 592 feet. The airport does not have a control tower, but has a local area common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) that also serves as a non-governmental communication facility (UNICON), which provides airport information on 122.8 megahertz (MHz). The airport features two asphalt runways. Runway 17/35 is 5,501-feet long and 75-feet wide, and Runway 04/22, which is 3,484-feet long and 55-feet wide. Both runways were found to be in good condition and properly marked.

Wreckage and impact information

The airplane impacted a freshly plowed field approximately 0.17 miles on a heading of 119 degrees from the departure end of Runway 17. The Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates recorded at the accident site using a hand held GPS unit were: Latitude 31 degrees 28.657 minutes North, and Longitude 097 degrees 18.926 minutes West, at a field elevation of 590 feet mean sea level. The wreckage energy path measured approximately 172 feet in length, and was oriented on a measured magnetic heading of 045 degrees. The impact heading of the airplane was recorded at 360 degrees, with a final resting place heading of 010 degrees.

Examination of the wreckage revealed that all aircraft components were located at the accident site. The landing gear and flaps were found in the retracted position. Flight control continuity was established throughout the airplane to the ailerons, rudder, and eleva