Bruce Leo Lutz
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Wichita, Kansas
Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas
Continental Aircraft Engines; Mobile, Alabama
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
https://registry.faa.gov/N4614S
Location: Hiawatha, KS
Accident Number: CEN19FA189
Date & Time: 06/28/2019, 1715 CDT
Registration: N4614S
Aircraft: Beechcraft 58
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On June 28, 2019, about 1715 central daylight time, a Beechcraft BE-58 airplane, N4614S, impacted terrain during an approach to the Hiawatha Municipal Airport (K87), Hiawatha, Kansas. The pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 cross-country personal flight.
The pilot was not in contact with air traffic control during the cross-country flight from Augusta Municipal Airport (3AU), Augusta, Kansas. Review of radar information revealed that the airplane proceeded in a northeast direction from the origin airport toward K87the destination; however, the flight track stopped about 3/4-mile northeast of K87 and the final minutes of the flight were not captured.
A witness reported that the airplane approached the airport from the south and then proceeded north-northeast as if to enter the traffic pattern. He added that the airplane appeared to climb and then started a left turn. Just after starting the turn, the airplane flipped inverted, the nose dropped, and the airplane descended from view behind terrain. The witness saw smoke and called 911.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 67, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):None
Toxicology Performed:Yes
Medical Certification: BasicMed
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot:No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 1498.4 hours (Total, all aircraft), 318.8 hours (Total, this make and model), 1351.7 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)
The pilot last medical certificate was issued on March 09, 2017, with no limitations. The pilot's second-class medical certificate expired on March 31, 2019, but he had completed the BasicMed flight medical. The pilot's BasicMed course date was April 16, 2019, and the Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist (CMEC) was completed on April 12, 2019.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Beechcraft
Registration:N4614S
Model/Series:58
Aircraft Category:Airplane
Year of Manufacture:1975
Amateur Built:No
Airworthiness Certificate:Normal
Serial Number:TH-684
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats:
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 08/10/2018, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 2 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3591.8 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-520
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 285 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KFNB
Distance from Accident Site: 11 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1753 CDT
Direction from Accident Site: 360°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 13 knots / 18 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 200°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 29.95 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 34°C / 24°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Precipitation
Departure Point: Augusta, KS (3AU)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Hiawatha, KS (K87)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1623 CDT
Type of Airspace:
Airport Information
Airport: Hiawatha Municipal Airport (K87)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 1130 ft
Runway Surface Condition:
Runway Used: 17
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3400 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Traffic Pattern
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries:N/A
Aircraft Explosion:None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 39.887778, -95.517222
The airplane wreckage was located in a corn field about 1-mile northeast of K87. The airplane impacted terrain on its bottom fuselage and came to rest upright on a 171° heading. A post-crash fire consumed a majority of the cabin and the inboard section of the wings. The wreckage was confined to one area, and all major components were accounted for on-site.
Figure 1: Wreckage
Flight control continuity was limited through the center section of the fuselage due to fire damage, however, the connection at each of the respective flight control surfaces was confirmed.
The cockpit/instrument panel was impact and fire damaged. The landing gear handle appeared to be in the down/landing gear extended position. A review of the landing gear actuator position corroborated the landing gear was in the down position. The right flap actuator was partially extended, which corresponded to a flap's 15° extended position.
The left and right engines remained attached to their respective airframe locations, and both engines had impact and fire damage. The right 3-bladed propeller separated from the engine crankshaft flange and was located underneath the airplane. The left 3-bladed propeller remained attached to the engine; neither propeller was in the feathered position
Both engines were rotated by hand, and thumb compression and suction were noted on each cylinder. The valve covers were removed and continuity through the valve train to the accessory section was observed. The left engine's left magneto produced spark at each terminal; the engine's right magneto was fire damaged and would not rotate. The right engine's left magneto produced spark at each terminal. The right magneto was fire damaged and did not produce spark at the terminals; however, spark was observed at the magneto points.
Each engine's fuel system, including the fuel manifold, fuel pump, fuel nozzles, and fuel screen were field examined, and no pre-impact abnormalities were noted. The top set of sparkplugs were removed from both engines, and normal combustion and wear signatures were observed.
Though the examination was limited by thermal and impact damage, no pre-impact abnormalities were observed during the airframe or engines examinations that would have precluded normal operations.
Medical And Pathological Information
The Frontier Forensics Midwest Morgue of Kansas City, Kansas, under the authority of the Brown County Coroner's Office, conducted an autopsy on the pilot. The cause of death was due to blunt traumatic injuries and severe burns.
The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, conducted toxicological testing. The specimens were not tested for cyanide. The tests were negative for ethanol and tested drugs.
in summary, "A witness reported that the airplane approached the airport from the south and then proceeded north-northeast as if to enter the traffic pattern. He added that the airplane appeared to climb and then started a left turn. Just after starting the turn, the airplane flipped inverted, the nose dropped, and the airplane descended from view behind terrain."
ReplyDelete"The airplane wreckage was located in a corn field about 1-mile northeast of K87. The airplane impacted terrain on its bottom fuselage and came to rest upright on a 171° heading."
Delete