MIA00FA221

History of flight

On July 17, 2000, about 1203 central daylight time, a Beech 58, N158MT, registered to and operated by AirNet Systems, Inc., as Star Check Flight 484, experienced a pilot reported electrical fire in-flight and crashed into Arkabutla Lake, Hernando, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 135 non-scheduled, domestic, cargo flight, from Memphis, Tennessee, to Houston, Texas. The airplane was destroyed and the commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The flight originated about 1154, from the Memphis International Airport, Memphis, Tennessee.

According to a transcription of communications with Memphis Air Traffic Control Tower (Memphis ATCT), at 1150:04 the pilot received IFR clearance to William P Hobby Airport, Houston, Texas, and at 1150:48, received clearance to taxi to runway 18L. At 1152:58, the pilot contacted local control and advised the controller that the flight was ready to depart. The controller advised the pilot to position the airplane and hold on runway 18L, which the pilot acknowledged. At 1153:49, the flight was cleared to takeoff and at 1154:39, the local controller advised the pilot to contact departure control. At 1154:50, the pilot established contact with the Memphis ATCT Departure Control West controller and advised that the flight was at 1,000 feet, climbing to 3,000 feet on an assigned heading of 220 degrees. Radar contact with the airplane was established at 1155:08, and at 1155:37, the controller cleared the flight to climb and maintain 6,000 feet. The pilot acknowledged the climb clearance and at 1157:12, the controller cleared the flight to fly heading 200 degrees, which the pilot also acknowledged.

The flight continued and the Memphis ATCT transcription of communications further indicates that at 1201:16, the pilot radioed, "star check four eighty four we're gonna shut the master switch off we've got a electrical fire." The controller asked the pilot to repeat his last transmission and at 1201:22, he advised the controller, "sir we gonna shut the master switch off we've got a electrical fire sir." The controller responded, "...ah tunica airport's the closet [sic] one to you it's about twelve miles off to your southwest", to which the pilot responded, "standby." At 1201:36, the pilot radioed, "okay sir we need to declare emergency we are descending", to which the controller advised the pilot of a grass airstrip located 4 miles northeast of the aircraft's position. At 1202:39, the pilot radioed, "star check four eighty four are you ah where's that airport sir we need to land immediately." The controller advised the pilot, "roger heading ah zero two zero it's northeast your position four miles hernando mississippi." The pilot did not respond to the controller. The controller again broadcast on the frequency for the pilot that the nearest airport was located 4 miles and 020 degrees from the airplane's present position; the pilot did not reply to that transmission. The controller vectored another airplane to the last known radar position of the airplane; the flightcrew of the vectored airplane radioed the accident pilot but two-way communications were not established. The flight crew advised the controller of seeing a column of black smoke and boats proceeding to the direction of the smoke (see transcript of communications).

Review of recorded radar data provided by Memphis ATCT revealed 103 transponder beacon returns were recorded from the accident airplane beginning at 1154:06 (altitude of 200 feet), and continue approximately every 4.6 seconds when reviewed in 1-minute increments, until 1201:54 (altitude of 5,400 feet). Further review of the radar data revealed the airplane climbed to a maximum altitude of 6,000 feet, reaching that altitude at 1200:59, and remained at that altitude for an additional five radar returns. The radar data indicates the airplane then began descending. Review of recorded radar data provided by Memphis Air Route Traffic Control Center (Memphis ARTCC) revealed transponder beacon returns from the accident airplane were recorded beginning at 1154:32, and continue approximately every 10 seconds until the last radar return at 1201:55. The last radar return was located at 34 degrees 46 minutes 02 seconds North latitude and 090 degrees 08 minutes 24 seconds West longitude; the recorded altitude was 5,500 feet mean sea level. The accident site was located 3.14 nautical miles and 108 degrees from the last radar return recorded at the Memphis ARTCC.

Review of radar plots and data provided by the airplane manufacturer revealed transponder beacon code radar returns were noted from 1154:31, until 1201:54. Uncorrelated primary radar returns were observed between 1201:59, and 1203:31. Further review of the radar data revealed at 1201:59, an uncorrelated primary radar target was observed 170 degrees and .25 nautical mile from the last transponder beacon code return. Additionally, between 1201:59, and 1203:21, radar targets indicate the airplane made a left turn flying from a southerly to a northeasterly heading. The final two uncorrelated radar returns at 1203:26, and 1203:31, indicate the airplane began a right turn where radar contact was lost over a section of Arkabutla Lake.

Several witnesses located near the crash site reported seeing smoke or what was described as "vapor trail" or "dust" trailing the airplane in flight. A witness reported a fire on the water after impact lasted an estimated 4-5 minutes.

Personnel information

According to FAA records, the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single and multi-engine land, instrument airplane ratings. He also held an airframe and powerplant mechanic certificate, and a flight instructor certificate with airplane single engine and instrument airplane ratings. He was issued a first class medical certificate on April 18, 2000, with no limitations.

The pilot was hired by Airnet Systems, Inc., on July 8, 1999, and was authorized to fly Cessna 310's and the Beech 58 aircraft only. His last Part 135 checkride occurred in a Beech 58, on July 8, 1999. The employment application completed by him indicates that he had accumulated a total time of 1,528 hours, of which 16 hours were in multi-engine airplanes, and 1,512 hours were in single-engine airplanes. Of the 16 hours in multi-engine airplanes, 6 hours were logged as pilot-in-command. A review of the pilot's logbook revealed at the time of the accident, he logged a total time of approximately 2,629 hours, of which 1,611 hours were in single-engine airplanes and 1,018 hours were in multi-engine airplanes. He logged a total of approximately 2,368 hours as pilot-in-command. He also logged a total time of 290 hours in the last 90 days, and 90 hours in the last 30 days, all in the accident make and model airplane. The company reported the pilot had accumulated 900 hours in the accident make and model airplane, all as pilot-in-command.

Aircraft information

The airplane was a Beech 58, serial number TH-1186, manufactured in 1980, and equipped with two Continental IO-520-CB engines rated at 285 horsepower, and two Hartzell PHC-J3YF-2UF propellers. Electrical wiring consisting of MIL-W-5086/1 of the single wire type was installed in the cockpit and cabin areas of airplane. It was also equipped with a cabin fire bottle. The airplane was certificated in the normal category in accordance with Civil Air Regulations Part 3 (CAM 3), titled, "Airplane Airworthiness Normal, Utility, and Acrobatic Category", as amended May 15, 1956, and 14 CFR Part 23.1385(c), 23.1387(a), and 23.1387(e) of Federal Aviation Regulations.

Review of the maintenance records revealed the airplane was last inspected in accordance with a Raytheon Aircraft 100-Hour inspection on June 14, 2000. The airplane had accumulated ap