History of Flight
On August 31, 2016, about 0930 central daylight time, a Beech A36, registration N8283D, was destroyed when it impacted a hangar during an attempted takeoff from runway 18 at the Bentonville Municipal Airport (VBT), Bentonville, Arkansas. The pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a postimpact explosion and fire. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed; the flight was not on a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for Springdale Municipal Airport (ASG), Springdale, Arkansas.
A pilot of another airplane reported that, while approaching VBT, his flight was authorized by approach control to change to the VBT common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). After the frequency change, he transmitted his intent to land on runway 36. The approach controller advised him that no traffic was observed at VBT, and the pilot heard no radio transmissions from other aircraft during the landing approach. After landing on the first third of runway 36, he observed another airplane (the accident airplane) at the end of runway 18 initiating a takeoff. The pilot transmitted over CTAF that he was on the runway, but the accident airplane continued the takeoff. Shortly thereafter, the accident airplane appeared to add more power and rolled left over the grass. It became airborne, pitched nose-up then nose-down twice before rolling left and impacting a hangar.
Surveillance video from VBT showed the other airplane during its landing roll on runway 36. The accident airplane could be seen taking off from runway 18 when it abruptly veered to the left (east). It crossed the unpaved ground between the runway and the airport ramp, became airborne, and traveled out of the frame. The footage did not capture the impact but showed the explosion and a postcrash fire.
Pilot Information
The 70-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with airplane single-engine and multiengine land ratings. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third-class medical certificate was issued on March 11, 2015, with a limitation for corrective lenses. The pilot reported no medical conditions and no use of medications to the FAA. At the time of the medical examination, the pilot reported 1,389 total hours of flight experience. The pilot's flight logbook was not available for review.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was a 1993 Beech A36, serial number E-2816. It was a single-engine monoplane with retractable tricycle landing gear and seating for six occupants. It was constructed predominantly of metal and powered by a Continental IO-550-B (6) engine, serial number 675847, rated at 300 horsepower. Review of maintenance records found within the wreckage revealed that the most recent annual inspection was performed on August 10, 2015. An entry dated March 14, 2016, indicated the engine had been overhauled and reinstalled. The airplane had accumulated 1,489.5 total hours as of the date of the engine overhaul.
Meteorological Information
At 0935, the weather reporting station at VBT recorded wind from 020° at 3 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear sky, and an altimeter setting of 30.12 inches of mercury.
Airport Information
VBT was an uncontrolled airport without an operating control tower. Pilots used the CTAF to communicate. The CTAF at VBT was not recorded. An employee at the fixed base operator reported hearing the landing airplane's pilot announce his position and intent to land, and later state, "Bentonville Municipal I am on the runway!" She did not hear any other pilots on the CTAF.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane impacted a hangar located on the east side of the runway, about 1,900 ft from the north end of runway 18 and 360 ft east of the runway centerline. A postimpact explosion and fire consumed the cabin section of the fuselage and the inboard wing sections. Fire also damaged the hangar. There was a hole in the front (west wall) near the peak and another hole in the south wall. The engine had separated from the airframe and came to rest next to the north wall of the adjacent hangar. The airframe came to rest in front of the hangar, with the nose facing west.
Examination confirmed the presence of all control surfaces. Due to extensive fire damage, a comprehensive examination of the fuselage structure was not possible; however, examination of remaining components did not reveal any preimpact structural failure. The left aileron actuation cable was separated in overload near the left wing root, and the left bellcrank ear was separated with the cable still attached. The right aileron actuation cable was continuous from the cockpit to the right bellcrank, where the ear separated with the cable attached. The right rudder cable was separated in overload in the cabin floor area; the left rudder cable was continuous from the rudder to the cockpit floor. Elevator control cables were continuous from the rear bellcrank to the cockpit floor. Elevator trim cables were continuous and the trim tab functioned normally.
All three propeller blades exhibited bending, twisting, gouging, and scratching consistent with power at impact. The engine showed compression and suction on all cylinders when rotated by hand. Magnetos produced spark on all leads during rotation. The airplane was equipped with navigation and communication radios, but examination was not possible due to fire damage. No preimpact anomalies of the airframe, engine, or associated systems were found.
Medical and Pathological Information
The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory conducted an autopsy and reported the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries, with manner accidental. The autopsy documented a pacemaker in the chest wall. Toxicological testing by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory revealed the blood pressure medications metoprolol and valsartan in urine and blood. The sedative temazepam was detected in urine at 7.204 µg/ml and heart blood at 0.071 µg/ml; its metabolite oxazepam was detected in urine at 0.795 µg/ml but not in heart blood. Temazepam is a Schedule IV controlled substance of the benzodiazepine class, intended for short-term treatment of insomnia. The package information includes warnings against driving or dangerous activities until fully awake. Its therapeutic range is about 0.2 to 1.1 µg/ml, with a half-life of 3 to 13 hours.
Review of the pilot's personal medical records revealed a history of atrial fibrillation treated with rivaroxaban, blood pressure/rate control with metoprolol, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol treated with valsartan, hydrochlorothiazide, and atorvastatin, and insomnia treated with temazepam. Following his most recent FAA examination, he developed a slow heart rate controlled with a pacemaker implanted in February 2016. An examination by a physician's assistant two weeks before the accident documented that the pilot felt well with no adverse symptoms from medications or medical conditions.
Probable Cause
No probable cause was stated in the source.