FTW98FA192

The non-instrument rated private pilot lost control of the twin engine airplane while attempting to divert to an airport with a lighted runway in dark night conditions with overcast skies and mist. During a weather briefing 4 hours before departure, the pilot was briefed on weather deteriorating near midnight and that runway 12/30 was closed at the destination airport. Upon arrival at the destination, the pilot made several attempts to activate runway lights for runway 20 before he inquired and was informed by the controller that runway 20 did not have runway lights. The pilot requested a diversion to the closest airport with runway lights and at least a 3,500 foot runway. The pilot was given a heading to an airport 18 miles away. This was the last transmission acknowledged by the pilot. The airplane impacted terrain in a steep nose down attitude. Examination of the airframe and engines did not reveal evidence of any structural or mechanical anomalies.

History of flight:

On April 25, 1998, at 2350 central daylight time, Beech BE-58 twin engine airplane, N60UU, was destroyed upon impact with terrain while maneuvering near Kerrville, Texas. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his 2 passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. A flight plan was not filed; however, the pilot requested and received flight following from the en route air traffic control facilities. The personal cross country flight originated from the Grand Prairie Municipal Airport, Grand Prairie, Texas, at 2225, with the Kerrville Municipal/Louis Schreiner Field Airport, Kerrville, Texas, as the flight's intended destination.

Two witnesses, located 3 miles north of the accident site, observed the lights of the airplane as the airplane traveled southbound toward the Kerrville Airport at 100 to 200 feet agl. The witnesses stated that the engine "did not sound in trouble." Approximately 10 minutes later the lights in their residence flickered 3 times and then went out. Elevation at the residence was 1,825 feet. Ceilings, estimated at 300 to 400 agl, with gusty winds from 10 to 30 mph, drizzle, light rain, and a visibility less than 1/4 mile were reported by these two witnesses.

A witness, located 1/2 mile south of the accident site, heard the airplane fly over his house at 2350. This witness observed the airplane's lights, and then saw the glow of the post impact fire. This witness stated that the "engine had a steady continuous sound." According to this witness, weather was misty with winds 10 to 15 mph, and overcast skies.

Another witness, located south of the accident site, heard the sound of the airplane's engine as the airplane flew by his house, turned, and then flew over the house. This witness observed the airplane's lights shining through his bedroom window. The witness stated that the weather was overcast skies with mist, drizzle, and winds gusting 20 to 25 mph.

The Central Texas Power and Light Company recorded the power outage at 2350. The wreckage of the aircraft was located 7 miles north of the Kerrville Airport.

Personal information:

A review of FAA records revealed that the pilot was issued a second class medical certificate on July 9, 1996, without limitations. On the medical application the pilot listed 500 hours of total aircraft flight time with 60 hours in the previous 6 months. The private pilot held airplane single engine land and multiengine land ratings.

Aircraft information:

The aircraft (S/N TH-88) was issued the FAA standard airworthiness certificate on August 20, 1970. In 1986, the aircraft was modified by Colemill Enterprises, Inc., "FOXSTAR" per STC-SA1762SO with the installation of 2 Teledyne Continental Model IO-550-C engines and 2 Hartzell HC-C4YF-2E propellers. The right engine, S/N 271694-R, was rebuilt in June 1991 by Teledyne Continental Motors, Mobile, Alabama. The aircraft was registered to the current owner on July 10, 1996. In February 1998, the left engine, S/N 271631-R, was overhauled by America's Aircraft Engines, Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma. The transponder and pitot static system checks were performed on October 21, 1996. The last annual inspection was performed on October 10, 1997, at a tachometer time of 1,797.4 hours (total aircraft time 7,035.4 hours). A review of the aircraft maintenance records, by the IIC, did not reveal any open discrepancies.

Meteorological information:

The National Weather Service (NWS) surface observations for the vicinity of the accident site were reporting the winds from 140 to 160 degrees at 9 to 15 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky condition 1,700 to 2,100 feet overcast, with temperatures and dewpoints in the sixties. The Area Forecast for Central Texas included marginal VFR ceilings with visibility reduced due to mist.

The NWS facility at San Antonio, Texas, located 45 nautical miles southeast of Kerrville, reported the local weather at 2356 as 1,700 feet overcast skies, 10 statute miles visibility, winds 150 degrees at 12 knots, temperature 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and dewpoint 62 degrees Fahrenheit.

Communications:

The air traffic control data and transcripts (enclosed) were reviewed and all times were converted to central daylight time unless noted otherwise. The pilot called the Fort Worth Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) at 1821 and received an abbreviated/outlook weather briefing for a VFR flight from Grand Prairie, Texas, to Kerrville, Texas. The pilot stated that he would be departing Grand Praire about 2230 and the flight time would be 1 hour 15 minutes. The pilot requested the latest forecast. The weather at Kerrville for the time of arrival was forecast to be 1,800 broken with winds from the southeast at 15 knots. The pilot was informed that runway 12/30 at Kerrville "should be closed." The briefer informed the pilot that the new forecast would be issued within the next hour, and the pilot stated that he would call back about 2100 for an update. There was no record of the pilot obtaining another briefing.

At 2225, the pilot contacted DFW Regional Approach Control for VFR flight following to Kerrville at 6,500 feet MSL. The aircraft was assigned a transponder code, 2205, and cleared to climb from 4,500 feet MSL to 6,500 feet MSL for VFR flight following. En route the pilot received flight following from Gray Approach Control and Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC).

The pilot was receiving VFR flight following from the Houston ARTCC in the Kerrville area. At 2318:41 the pilot requested to begin a cruise descent to the destination airport. Radar contact was lost during the airplane's descent from 6,500 feet msl to 4,500 feet msl. The last radar observation at 2326:32 showed the airplane at 4,500 feet MSL at latitude 30 degrees 35.15 North; longitude 98 degrees 48.03 West with a groundspeed of 177 knots and a ground track (199 degrees) paralleling Victor 358.

At 2338:37 the pilot reported that he did not have the runway lights in sight at Kerrville and asked the controller for the status of the runway lights. The pilot reported that he was trying to activate the lights for runway 20. Subsequently, the pilot was informed that runways 12 and 30 were closed and that runways 02 and 20 may not have runway lights.

At 2345:20, the pilot informed the controller that he would need to divert to another airport and requested information on the closest available airport with runway lights with at least a 3,500 foot runway. The pilot was informed that the Fredericksburg Airport had a lighted, hard surfaced, 4,600 foot long runway (14/32). The Fredericksburg Airport identifier (T82) was requested and given to the pilot by the controller. The controller gave the pilot a heading of 024 and a distance of 18 miles to the Fredericksburg Airport, and the pilot acknowledged the controllers transmissions. At 2347:02, the pilot was given a transponder code of 2413; however, this transmission was never acknowledged by the pilot. The controller made numerous attempts to contact the pilot; however, there were no further transmissions from the pilot.

Aerodrome information:

The listing in the Airport Facility Directory, effective 23 April 1998 through 18 June 1998, for Kerrville Municipal/Schreiner Field was reviewed. Runway 12/20, hard surface, was listed as 4,050 feet long and 60 feet wide with a displaced threshold and trees. Runway 12/30, hard surface, was listed as 5,495 feet long and 100 feet wide with medium intensity runway lights. The airport remarks stated "runway 12/30 CLOSED Mon-Thu 1300-2359Z until May 31, 1998."

According to the San Angelo AFSS, the following NOTAMS were in effect for the Kerrville Airport at the time of the accident: 12/30 closed; ILS approach lights and L