Accident Details
The Beech A36 airplane began its flight with a center of gravity (CG) approximately 0.95 inch aft of the aft limit. The intended destination was an airport about 20 nautical miles north-northeast of the departure airport. The terrain between the airports included mountainous elevations up to 4,321 feet mean sea level (msl). The flight departed from runway 06, which had a length of 4,529 feet. The aircraft became airborne about two-thirds down the runway, according to witness accounts.
Witness Observations
At a point approximately 1,500 feet past the departure end of the runway, the airplane was observed at only 75 to 100 feet above ground level (agl). Witnesses reported that the airplane was flying slowly in a steep climb attitude with the landing gear retracted. No unusual engine sounds were heard. The flight continued on a northeasterly heading. Another witness, located in mountainous terrain about 1 mile southwest of the crash site, reported the airplane flying at an estimated 200 to 250 feet agl, about two to three times the height of the tree tops. That witness stated that the engine sounded larger than typical and did not hear any missing or sputtering.
Crash and Examination
The airplane impacted upsloping terrain at an elevation of 3,400 feet msl during daylight hours, approximately 5.38 miles northeast from the departure end of runway 06. No known witnesses observed the actual crash. Impact and a postcrash fire destroyed the airplane. Examination of the airframe and flight controls revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The engine, engine systems, and propeller also showed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.