History of Flight
On July 16, 2008, about 1015 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 441 Conquest, N441HK, impacted terrain about 400 feet east of Runway 36 at Sunriver Resort Airport in Sun River, Oregon. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was killed. The airplane, owned by the pilot's corporation, was destroyed by impact and post-crash fire. The flight departed Bakersfield, California about two hours and fifteen minutes prior, operating under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions. The pilot had filed and activated an IFR flight plan but canceled his clearance approaching Sun River.
Witnesses reported a normal approach and initial touchdown on the main wheels near the south end of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane bounced multiple times, with increasing amplitude. After the third or fourth bounce, while 10 to 20 feet above the runway, the airplane entered a nose-down, right wing-low attitude, descending forcefully enough for the right propeller to strike the asphalt. Sixteen propeller blade strikes were found over 23 feet, along with scars from the right main and nose landing gear wheel rims. Shortly after, engines sounded at full power. The airplane lifted nose-high, rolled right, and veered east. Its right wing struck a 25-foot tall tree about 200 feet east of the runway centerline, separating the outboard three feet. Still banked over 45 degrees, the airplane descended nose-low into terrain. A fuel trail appeared, and a fire started near the outboard right wing, engulfing the airframe within minutes.
Personnel Information
The 50-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with single-engine, multi-engine, and instrument ratings. According to his flight log, he had about 965 total flight hours, including 845 hours as PIC in multi-engine airplanes and 277 hours as PIC in the Cessna 441 Conquest. He completed a 10-hour Conquest II Recurrent Training Course and an Instrument Proficiency Check on May 3, 2008. His last medical certificate (second class) was issued August 6, 2007, with a requirement to wear corrective lenses.
Meteorological Information
The 0956 METAR for Roberts Field in Redmond, Oregon (about 30 miles north) reported winds 050° at 4 knots, visibility 8 miles, clear skies, temperature 24°C, dew point 5°C, altimeter 30.14 inHg. A Sunriver Airport representative reported winds 337° at 4 knots when the pilot first called, with scattered clouds around 10,000 feet AGL and visibility at least 10 miles.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The outboard right wing section was found 40 feet northeast of the struck tree, with the outboard 18 inches of the right aileron nearby. The nose impacted an open grassy field 180 feet northeast of the tree on a magnetic heading of 55°. Most of the airplane came to rest 275 feet northeast of the tree. The right engine separated and was 50 feet beyond the main wreckage. Except for components separated at the nose impact point, all primary structure and flight controls were with the main wreckage.
Post-crash fire extensively damaged most of the airplane, except the outboard left wing. The fuselage was largely consumed. Both fuel filler caps were still connected. The empennage showed no evidence of flight control sub-component or hinge failure. Both entry doors were closed and latched. The nose and right main gear actuators were fully extended; the right main gear actuator rod had fractured in overload, and the right main gear folded inward. The left main gear was fully extended. The flap actuator indicated flaps full down, confirmed by photos. Control cable continuity was established to all empennage surfaces and ailerons. Elevator trim tab was at full tab down (11°), rudder trim tab at 5° tab right, aileron trim tab at 5° tab down.
Both engines separated. The right engine showed no compressor or turbine damage; all four propeller blades were feathered, with chordwise scarring and tip damage. The left engine suffered fire damage; its blades were melted from tips to one-quarter to one-third span, with roots feathered. The throttle quadrant components (both throttles and fuel condition levers) were in full forward positions. Examination of surviving components revealed no evidence of pre-existing anomalies or malfunctions.
Medical and Pathological Information
Toxicological tests by the FAA on pilot specimens were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, and drugs. The Oregon State Medical Examiner determined the manner of death as accidental, caused by blunt force trauma.