LAX98FA297

After washing the airplane, the pilot took off for a short night flight to dry it. Family members reported that the pilot's habit was to do a 15- to 20-minute flight after washing the airplane. A witness near the accident site saw the airplane's nose pointed downward and its red and green position lights spiraling around as it descended. Another witness located closer to the impact location heard loud sustained engine sounds 'like a kamikaze in a dive.' The airplane collided with trees and hilly terrain and the extensively fragmented wreckage was spread over a 100- by 200-foot debris field. The aircraft sounds terminated after a few seconds with the sound of '2 cars hitting each other.' The pilot's last reported flight review was conducted in a helicopter. The last pilot logbook entry was dated May 28, 1997, the date of the last flight review. According to the aircraft logbook, the pilot would have averaged about 1.8 flight hours per month in the airplane during the past 11.5 months. Weather observations reported clear skies with no visibility restrictions. There was no moon illumination. The only ground reference lights were from the city, which was located north and west of the accident site. No preimpact failures or malfunctions were found during the wreckage examination.

History of flight

On September 18, 1998, about 2235 hours Pacific daylight time, a Beech 35-B33, N486W, descended into hilly terrain in San Jose, California. The aircraft was destroyed during the impact sequence and postcrash fire. The pilot and passenger both received fatal injuries. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight by the pilot/owner under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated from the Reid-Hillview of Santa Clara County Airport, San Jose, about 2220. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

An eyewitness, who was looking out her window about 2235 on the night of the accident, reported seeing an aircraft west of the Anderson Reservoir. She stated that the aircraft's nose was pointed downward and that its red and green lights were spiraling around as it descended. She was able to watch it for about 5 seconds before it disappeared behind the hill west of the reservoir. After it disappeared she saw a brief flash of light against the sky. Her window was open but she reported that she did not hear any noises that she could associate with the aircraft. She said that the weather at the time was clear with calm winds. Her home is located 3.7 miles south of the accident site.

Another witness, who was camping about 0.25 miles southeast of the crash site, reported hearing the sound of an aircraft flying overhead from south to north. He stated that the he had gone to bed about 2200 that night and was awakened by loud sustained engine sounds which he described as "like a kamikaze in a dive." The aircraft sounds terminated after a few seconds into what the witness described as the sound of "2 cars hitting each other." He did not recall hearing any other sounds or smelling any unusual odors following the impact noise and he went back to sleep. He said that he did not investigate the noise at the time because he was sleepy and was not entirely certain that he had heard what he thought he heard. He said that the weather at the time he went to bed was clear with calm winds.

About 1500 on September 19, 1998, another camper from this group reported seeing a column of smoke about 0.25 miles northwest of their campsite. As he was en route to notify fire officials, he told his friends about the smoke. They then proceeded toward the source of the smoke. Upon their arrival they discovered the scene of an aircraft crash that was still smoldering.

Personnel information

The pilot obtained his private pilot certificate with airplane single engine land rating on May 18, 1974. He obtained an add-on rotorcraft-helicopter rating on May 20, 1987. The pilot's last reported biennial flight review was conducted in a Hiller UH-12B helicopter.

The last pilot logbook entry was dated May 28, 1997, the date of the last biennial flight review.

The pilot's wife reported to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors that it was his custom to wash his aircraft at night to avoid sun-dried water spots, and then to fly it in order to dry it off. She had accompanied him on numerous occasions and stated that he flew south from Reid-Hillview with the total flight time generally lasting about 15 to 20 minutes. She also stated that he never allowed anyone else to fly the aircraft.

According to the aircraft logbook, the pilot would have averaged about 1.8 flight hours per month in the airplane during the past 11.5 months.

Aircraft information

Fueling records obtained from Reid-Hillview showed that the pilot purchased 30 gallons of 100-octane low lead (LL) at 2123 on the night of the accident.

The aircraft was equipped with a throw-over yoke. The hole corresponding to the yoke's locking pin at the left pilot's position showed elongation.

The aircraft was equipped with an Edo-Aire Mitchell (a.k.a. Century III) two-axis autopilot (pitch and roll). The autopilot "AP Mode Select Panel" switch was found in the "heading select" position. The manufacturer stated that it takes approximately 20 pounds of force on the control wheel to slip (override) the clutches on either the pitch or roll servos. There is no provision for an automatic disconnect based on pilot override, but there are autopilot disconnect switches located on the control wheel and on the instrument panel. It was not possible to determine if the autopilot was engaged at the time of the accident.

As of an annual inspection on June 5, 1996, the aircraft had accumulated a total of 3,844.41 hours. It flew an additional 62.43 hours until its latest annual inspection on October 1, 1997. After the last annual, it flew another 20.76 hours until the time of the accident.

Meteorological information

Weather observations reported clear skies with no visibility restrictions. There was no moon illumination at the time of the accident. Ground lights from the city of San Jose were located north and west of the accident site.

Airport information

The tower at Reid-Hillview closed at 2200 on the evening of the accident. There was no record of the accident aircraft taking off prior to that time on the night of the accident.

Wreckage and impact information

The accident site was located at 37 degrees 11.155 minutes north longitude and 121 degrees 39.252 minutes west latitude. The site sloped downward in an approximately 16-degree grade toward the north. The site elevation was estimated about 1,000 feet msl. The terrain was covered with oak trees and scrub oak. The debris field was along a 015-degree bearing from the first indication of contact, with 45-degree slashes in the limbs of scrub oaks, to the final position of engine and fuselage fragments. The distance from the farthest slashed branch to the initial ground scar was about 30 feet. The debris field was approximately 100 feet wide and 200 feet long.

The propeller hub and two blades were found in the initial ground scar. The hub had stripped from the crankshaft mounting flange. One propeller mounting stud remained in the hub. The remaining five holes in the hub showed deformation opposite the direction of prop rotation. The spinner was crushed around the hub and contained wood fragments. Both blades that remained attached to the hub showed evidence of forward bending, chordwise scuffing and polishing, twisting, and leading edge and tip damage. In addition, one blade also showed S-bending and diagonal scratching, while the other showed longitudinal scratching. The separated blade showed evidence of chord-wise, lateral and diagonal scratching, S-bending, and leading edge damage.

The engine case was broken and all six cylinders had separated. The first engine component encountered along the debris path was the forward section of the crankshaft (CC8 forward) and the No. 6 cylinder, connecting rod, and piston. The No. 6 rod showed evidence of beginning to separate from its cap but, although bent aft, it still remained attached. The No. 6 piston and cylinder did not show any unusual wear markings. The No. 4 main journal and the No. 6 rod journal were smooth and did not show scoring or discoloration.

The next section of the engine along the debris path included the aft portion of the crankshaft (CC8 aft), the Nos. 1 and 2 cylinders, connecting rods and pistons along with the Nos. 3 and 4 connecting rods and pistons. The Nos. 3 and 4 pistons showed evidence of impact, with several of the piston rings separated. The aft section of the camshaft was also found. All the lobes were smooth and shiny with no evidence of flat spots. Nearly all of the right side of the crankcase was missing, as was about half of the left side.

The No. 4 cylinder was the next engine component found in the debris field. The Nos. 3 and 5 cylinders, still attached to a portion of the right crankcase, were the next to be found, lying along the debris path centerline.

The No. 5 connecting rod and piston had separated from the cran