FTW02FA195

A witness reported hearing the distinctive sound of a radial engine just before the crash, and right after that a loud crashing noise. The witness observed a large cloud of dust forming, subsequently saw the plane parts scattering from west to east across the pasture, and then observed the fuselage come to rest. A second witness saw the airplane hit the ground and a cloud of dust form about one-quarter of a mile long and as high as a highline wire. The witness said that after the dust settled he saw scattered plane parts, a highline wire down, and a wing part spilling fuel. The witness also stated that the airplane was traveling from west to east and looked horizontal at impact At 12:59:57, approximately 10 minutes prior to the time of the accident, air traffic control radar identified a target 8 nautical miles northwest of the accident site at an altitude of 5,500 feet mean sea level (MSL). However, this target could not be positively identified as the accident airplane. A postmortem examination of the pilot by a Medical Investigator reported significant natural disease findings included coronary atherosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of the arteries), and chronic thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland). Both of these diseases can cause sudden cardiac problems including an arrhythmia or heart attack.

History of flight

On July 1, 2002, approximately 1315 mountain daylight time, a Beech H-18 twin-engine airplane, N835K, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while descending near Tatum, New Mexico. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal cross-country flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Taos Regional Airport, Taos, New Mexico, at an unspecified time.

According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2), the owner of the airplane reported the pilot had flown he and his wife to Taos on the morning of the accident, arriving at approximately 1105 after an uneventful flight. The owner said the pilot stopped the airplane and helped them unload their luggage into a rental vehicle. The owner further stated that he and his wife left the airport at approximately 1130 but did not observe the departure of their airplane.

In a telephone interview, and in a written statement provided to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), a witness who was unloading feed at a farm house approximately 300 yards from the accident site reported hearing the "distinctive sound of a radial engine" just before the crash. He also stated that right after that his fellow worker exclaimed "Oh my gosh!" The witness further reported that he turned around and heard a loud "crashing noise," and that he saw a big cloud of dust forming above the truck trailer. The witness stated that he then saw the plane parts scattering from west to east across the pasture, and then saw the fuselage come to rest.

In a written statement provided to the NTSB IIC, a second witness, who was working with the first witness, reported seeing the airplane hit the ground. The witness also reported that he saw a cloud of dust about one-quarter of a mile long and as high as a highline wire. The witness stated that when the dust settled he saw scattered plane parts, a highline wire down, and a wing part spilling fuel. The witness said the airplane was traveling from west to east and "looked horizontal at impact."

At 12:59:57, the Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center radar (ARTCC), identified a target approximately 8 nautical miles northwest of the accident site at an altitude of 5,500 feet mean sea level (MSL). However, this target could not be positively identified as the accident airplane.

Personnel information

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single and multi-engine land and instrument ratings. Additionally, he held airframe and power plant mechanic certificates. He also possessed a second class medical certificate dated April 24, 2002, with the limitation that he must wear corrective lenses.

According to the airplane's owner, the pilot had accumulated in excess of 30,000 hours of flying time, of which more than 500 hours were in the Beech 18, and more than 10,000 hours in multi-engine aircraft. The pilot had completed his most recent biennial flight review on March 25, 2001.

Aircraft information

The 1965-model, twin radial engine, conventional-retractable gear airplane, was issued its original airworthiness certificate on April 19, 1965. The airplane was equipped with two Pratt and Whitney R985 AN-1 engines rated at 450 horsepower. The right engine, serial number 42-58578, was installed on N835K on August 3, 1994. Logbook records did not indicate how much time was on the engine. The left engine, serial number JP-205571, underwent a major overhaul on October 5, 2000; however, logbooks did not indicate when the engine was installed on the airframe.

The aircraft underwent its most recent annual inspection on August 23, 2001, with a total time on the airframe of 6,466.4 hours. The owner estimated that the total time since the last inspection was less than 200 hours.

Meteorological information

At 1250, the reported weather conditions at the Lea County Regional Airport, Hobbs, New Mexico, located 57 nautical miles southeast of the accident site, reported wind 150 degrees at 15 knots, visibility 15 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 33 degrees C, dew point 16 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.10 inches of Mercury.

Wreckage and impact information

Examination of the aircraft wreckage by the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) and a representative from the Federal Aviation Administration, revealed that the accident site was situated in a flat pasture area approximately 20 nautical miles northwest of Tatum, New Mexico, at latitude 033 degrees 26.49 minutes North and longitude 103 degrees 36.27 minutes West. The initial impact heading was oriented on a magnetic heading of 085 degrees at an altitude of 4,250 feet mean sea level (MSL). The beginning of the energy path began with ground scars from propeller strikes oriented on a magnetic heading of 070 degrees and was 1,286 feet in length from the initial ground impact scar to the final airplane component. The energy path was along flat scrub brush ground. Both wings, the left rudder and vertical stabilizer, and both engines had separated from the airplane. The cabin and cockpit areas were destroyed. All six-propeller blades had separated from their respective propeller hubs.

The main fuselage came to rest on its left side at the 689-foot mark (all distances measured from the initial ground impact scar) on a magnetic heading of 080 degrees. The elevator, horizontal stabilizer, right rudder and right vertical stabilizer remained partially attached to the empennage, The final airplane component along the energy path was a landing gear tire, located at the 1,296-foot mark.

The left rudder and left vertical stabilizer were separated from the empennage and located at the 365-foot mark and 30 feet left of the energy path. The rudder was intact with minimal damage, while the vertical stabilizer was twisted and bent. The right rudder and right vertical stabilizer exhibited numerous punctures, tears and rips, and remained attached to the tail section of the airplane. The left half of the elevator was separated from the left half of the horizontal stabilizer but remained attached to the empennage. It was also bent downward approximately 30 degrees resting on the ground. The left half of the horizontal stabilizer remained attached to the tail section of the aircraft. It was also bent, twisted and exhibited leading edge crushing. The right half of the elevator and the right half of the horizontal stabilizer remained intact and connected to the empennage.

The left wing, located at the 350-foot mark, was bent and twisted with the fuel tank breached. The left flap, located at the 325-foot mark and 15 feet left of the energy path was separated from the left wing. The left aileron was also separated from the left wing and located at the 218-foot mark along the energy path.

The right wing, including the aileron, separated from the airframe and came to rest at the 515-foot mark along the energy path centerline. The right wing was bent and twisted, and the fuel tank was breached. The right wing flap was located at the 520-foot mark. The inboard 4 feet of the flap was bent and twisted, while the outer portion remained intact.

The left engine was separated from the airframe and destroyed. The front of the engine was located at the 762-foot mark and 140 feet left of the energy path. The separated accessory section of the engine was located at the 1,100-foot mark and 100 feet to the right of the energy path. The propeller hub was separated from the crankshaft and all three propeller blades had separated from their respective propeller hubs. Each blade exhibited twisting and chordwise scratching. Four cylinders were found separated from the engine while the remaining five cylinders remained attached, exhibiting post-impac