What happened
On August 20, 2013, a Beech C23, registration N243RG, was substantially damaged after impacting the Kennebec River in Bingham, Maine. The flight was being conducted under Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) with 10 miles of visibility.
The aircraft had departed from Augusta State Airport (AUG) for Gadabout Gadd and Gaddis Airport (ME08) to conduct a vehicle appraisal. During the return flight from ME08, the pilot attempted takeoff from a 2,000-foot turf runway. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, the airspeed indicator appeared non-functional, prompting him to tap the gauge manually.
As the aircraft reached approximately 20 feet above the ground, the stall warning activated. The pilot attempted to push the control wheel forward to regain airspeed and turned the aircraft upriver. During this maneuver, the right wing struck trees located at the end of the runway, causing the aircraft to impact the river nose-first. The pilot and passenger were not injured.
The investigation
An investigation by the FAA examined the wreckage and found the airplane resting upright, though the rear fuselage had separated from the cabin area. The propeller exhibited S-bending, and the flap handle was in the stowed position. Investigators found no evidence of engine or mechanical failures that would have prevented normal operation, and the pitot tube showed no blockages.
Analysis of the meteorological data revealed a temperature of 27 degrees Celsius, resulting in a calculated density altitude of approximately 3,218 feet. Using the aircraft's flight manual and Koch Chart, investigators determined that the high density altitude would have decreased the climb rate by approximately 30 percent. Additionally, the manual indicated that clearing a 50-foot obstacle would require a takeoff distance of approximately 2,300 feet, which exceeded the available 2,000-foot runway length.