History of Flight
On June 24, 2009, about 1700 mountain standard time, a Beech B95, registration N912T, collided with terrain at Holbrook, Arizona. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot and three passengers sustained fatal injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage from impact forces and a post-crash fire. The cross-country personal flight was departing for Largo Vista, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot contacted the Prescott Automated Flight Service Station at 0934 for a standard weather brief, indicating departure from Santa Rosa, California, in 20 minutes at an en route altitude of 11,500 feet. Witnesses reported that the pilot stopped for fuel at Holbrook on June 23 and stated he was going to California. He landed at Holbrook about 1600 the day of the accident and said he was returning to his home in Texas.
While the passengers drove to town for lunch, the pilot fueled the airplane at the self-service pump and told witnesses not to touch the left wing as he had become nauseated en route and vomited out the pilot side vent window. After fueling, he went into the airport lounge and lay down on a sofa in a fetal position. Witnesses stated he looked clammy and pale. After the passengers returned, they boarded. The airplane started without difficulty; no fluid leaks or smoke were noted during taxi.
A professional pilot observed the taxi and takeoff on runway 03. He stated the wind was from 240 to 270 degrees at 5 to 10 knots. The airplane had an extended ground roll and lifted off approximately 3,500 feet down the 7,000-foot runway. It climbed to about 300 feet above ground level and made a 45-degree right turn, then entered a left turn appearing to return toward runway 21. As the airplane rolled through the extended centerline, the bank angle increased until the left wingtip was pointed at the ground. The airplane continued to roll until the nose was pointed toward the ground prior to impact. The witness observed smoke and instructed other witnesses to call for emergency services.
Personnel Information
The 45-year-old pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. He also held a certified flight instructor certificate with those ratings. He held a first-class medical certificate issued on December 8, 2008, with no limitations or waivers. No personal flight records were located. The NTSB obtained aeronautical experience from FAA medical records. The pilot reported a total time of 4,100 hours with 200 hours in the previous 6 months. On an insurance application dated October 20, 2008, he reported 4,200 hours total, 700 hours in multiengine airplanes with 300 hours in make/model, and 300 hours in the previous 12 months.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was a Beech B95, serial number TD-364. No maintenance logbooks were recovered. The left engine was a Textron Lycoming O-360-A1A, serial number RL-36344-36A. The right engine was a Textron Lycoming O-360-A1A, serial number L-12594-36A. Fueling records at Holbrook indicated the airplane was last fueled prior to takeoff with 65 gallons of 100-octane low lead aviation fuel.
Meteorological Information
An aviation routine weather report (METAR) for Winslow, Arizona (33 nautical miles at 280 degrees from Holbrook) issued at 1656 MST reported wind from 260 degrees at 13 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky clear, temperature 33 degrees Celsius, dew point 4 degrees Celsius, altimeter 30.03 inches of mercury.
Airport Information
The Airport/Facility Directory indicated Holbrook runway 03 was 6,698 feet long and 75 feet wide, asphalt, with a displaced threshold of 800 feet.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Investigators examined the wreckage at the accident scene. The site was in desert terrain at an elevation of 5,263 feet about 1 mile northeast of the airport. The first identified point of contact was a ground scar in soft dirt. The debris path was oriented along a magnetic heading of 240 degrees, and the fuselage orientation was 060 degrees. The wings exhibited symmetrical leading edge crush damage that went aft to the spar. Fire consumed the skin in the fuselage and inboard portions of both wings. The right engine separated from the airframe; the right propeller remained attached. The left engine was inverted on top of the left wing remains; the left propeller separated with a jagged fracture surface and circumferential shear lip. The tail section remained together; paint scorching stopped just forward of the leading edge of the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. Control continuity was established for the elevators and rudder. Continuity from the left aileron to the center of the fuselage was established; the control cable separated mid cabin. The right aileron bellcrank separated from the fuselage; the rod end for the bellcrank fractured and separated inside the wing, with a bent rod end and angular fracture surface. One control yoke had the chain in place around its sprocket; the chain and control column separated at its base in a jagged and angular pattern. The aileron and rudder trim tabs appeared in a neutral position.
Medical and Pathological Information
The Forensic Science Center in Tucson completed an autopsy on the pilot, determining the cause of death as blunt impact to the head, torso, and extremities with severe internal injuries. The FAA Forensic Toxicology Research Team performed toxicological testing. No carbon monoxide was detected; cyanide tests were not performed. Volatiles: 10 mg/dL ethanol detected in muscle, no ethanol in liver; the report stated the ethanol was from sources other than ingestion. Drugs: 0.143 ug/g norpropoxyphene detected in liver, 0.044 ug/ml in blood; phentermine detected in liver and 0.585 ug/ml in blood. The NTSB medical officer reviewed the records. Norpropoxyphene is an inactive metabolite of propoxyphene, a narcotic pain medication (Schedule IV). Phentermine is a sympathomimetic amine appetite suppressant (Schedule IV) for obese patients with BMI over 30. The pilot's BMI was 27.4.
Additional Information
Investigators discovered several packages of a substance identified by law enforcement as marijuana in the baggage compartment. A friend and one victim had a telephone conversation in which the victim stated that the airplane had struggled getting off the ground at Holbrook on the outbound leg and was concerned about going through there again on the return trip.