Investigators from the
National Transportation Safety Board are investigating three
separate general aviation accidents that occurred on August 3-4,
2004 in Texas. Below are updates on the investigations. All times
indicated in the updates are central daylight time.
Lakeway, Texas - Aerostar PA-60-601P
On August 3, 2004, at 11:59 a.m., an Aerostar PA-60- 601P
twin-engine airplane, N601BV, was destroyed shortly after takeoff
from runway 16 at Lakeway Airpark (3R9), Austin, Texas. The
commercial pilot and five passengers (three adults and two
children) were killed in the crash.
The airplane was registered to and operated by Aviation Flight
Standards, LLC, Wilmington, Delaware. A visual flight rules (VFR)
flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Lakeway, about
11:58 a.m., and was destined for Wylie Post Airport (PWA), Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the
flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part
91.
The airframe wreckage, engines, propellers, and propeller
governors have been examined and no obvious preimpact mechanical
deficiencies were noted. The hand-held Garmin global positioning
system (GPS) MAP 295 receiver was sent to Garmin in an attempt to
retrieve any stored data, including the airplane's groundspeed,
headings, latitude and longitude positions, and altitude. However
the unit was too damaged and the information could not be
retrieved.
The Safety Board has received pilot and maintenance logbooks and
will be reviewing the material in the next few weeks. Additionally,
investigators will conduct interviews with witnesses to the
accident and business associates of the pilot.
A preliminary weight and balance calculation indicated that the
airplane was over its published maximum gross weight by
approximately 284 pounds and was slightly forward of the allowable
center of gravity limits. Interpolation of the airplane's published
performance charts revealed that the takeoff, at the airplane's
maximum gross weight and with the calculated pressure altitude,
would have required a distance of 3,850 feet of runway to clear a
50-foot obstacle on a paved, level runway. Runway 16 at Lakeway
Airport is 3,930 feet long and sloped uphill.
The NTSB identification number for this investigation is
FTW04FA204 and the investigator-in-charge is Leah Yeager of the
NTSB's South Central Regional Office in Arlington, Texas.
Olney, Texas - Mooney M20J
On August 4, 2004, at
approximately 8:45 a.m. a Mooney M20J single-engine airplane,
N1050W, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a loss of
control while maneuvering for landing at the Olney Municipal
Airport (ONY), near Olney, Texas. The airplane was registered to a
private individual and operated by Maxwell Aviation of Gladewater,
Texas. The commercial pilot and two passengers were killed. Visual
meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed
for the 14 CFR Part 91 business flight. The 200-nautical mile
cross-country flight originated from Gladewater, Texas, at about
7:30 a.m., with ONY as its intended destination. The pilot held a
commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land, and
instrument ratings.
A witness located on the ramp of the airport reported that he
heard a transmission from the accident aircraft reporting their
intentions to land on runway 35. The witness reported the following
information in his statement to investigators: He went outside and
observed the airplane over the approach end of runway 35 at an
altitude estimated at 500 feet above the ground. He then observed
the airplane initiate a 360-degree left turn to runway 35. As the
airplane started to come around to a northerly heading, the
airplane appeared to drift east of the extended centerline of the
runway. The witness stated that the pilot appeared to correct his
approach by increasing the airplane's angle of bank. The witness
added that the airplane rolled inverted, the nose dropped and the
aircraft descended vertically to impact with the ground.
A post-impact fire consumed the cabin and most of the left wing of
the airplane. Flight control system continuity was established for
the aft flight controls to the control bar underneath the rear
seats.
The airplane came to rest in a drainage ditch approximately 0.2
miles south of runway 35. The wreckage debris distribution area
remained within a 50-foot radius to the main wreckage. Ground scars
were consistent with a right wing low, 70-degree approximate
nose-down position at the time of impact.
The NTSB identification number for this investigation is
FTW04FA206. The investigator-in-charge is Hector Cassanova,
Regional Director of the NTSB's South Central Regional Office in
Arlington, Texas.
Mineral Wells, Texas - Piper PA-32-260
On August 4, 2004, at
approximately 11:40 a.m. a single-engine Piper PA-32-260 (file
photos, right), N3352W, operated by Century Flight Systems, was
destroyed when it departed controlled flight and impacted power
lines and terrain one mile northwest of Mineral Wells Municipal
Airport (MWL), Mineral Wells, Texas. A post crash fire ensued.
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the
accident. The test flight was being conducted under the provisions
of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The commercial
certificated pilot and private pilot rated passenger were killed in
the crash.
The test flight departed Mineral Wells at approximately 10:00
a.m. The purpose of the flight was to functionally test the Garmin
530 GPS receiver that had been installed. According to several
witnesses, the accident airplane was observed flying from south to
north over runway 31. One witness stated that the airplane was
approximately 150 feet above ground level and flying "rather slow."
The airplane then "pulled up hard" and banked steeply to the right.
Another witness stated that the bank was approximately 80 to 90
degrees. The airplane was then observed to descend below the tree
line.
The airplane was found
inverted in an open field, directly under power lines. The right
wing, fuselage, cabin area, and horizontal stabilizer exhibited
severe post-crash fire damage. The left wing had separated from the
fuselage and was charred. The outboard section of the left wing was
separated and showed signatures consistent with a wire strike. The
engine was recovered and will undergo an examination at a later
date. A power pole located 430 feet west of the airplane was
broken. The pole supported three lines. The northern most power
line was down.
The investigator-in-charge for this accident is David Bowling,
Regional Director of the NTSB's Central Mountain Regional Office,
Denver, Colorado. The NTSB identification number for this accident
is DEN04FA115.