History of Flight
On March 4, 2021, at approximately 1510 eastern standard time, a Beech C-23, registration N67013, was substantially damaged in an accident near Purcellville, Virginia. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The flight was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The pilot was departing from runway 19 at Krens Farm Airport (14VA) in Hillsboro, Virginia. A witness reported hearing the airplane take off and observed it as it departed. She noted that the airplane was “tilted to the left” as it descended into the trees. The witness stated that she heard the engine producing “traditional engine noises” throughout the event. She also noted that a tailwind prevailed relative to the airplane’s takeoff direction. The pilot’s son reported that his father always used runway 19 due to the slope of the runway.
Meteorological Information
The 1455 recorded weather observation at Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO), about 13 miles southeast of the accident site, indicated wind from 310° at 24 knots, gusting to 29 knots. Interpolation of the crosswind component chart showed a right crosswind of approximately 21 knots and a tailwind component of 12 knots, gusting to 14 knots at the time of the accident.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane struck several trees beginning about 326 feet southeast of the departure end of runway 19 at an elevation of about 690 feet mean sea level. A debris field 306 feet long, oriented along a magnetic heading of 128°, led to the main wreckage, which consisted of the fuselage and right wing and came to rest in a heavily wooded area. No post-impact fire occurred, and the smell of 100LL aviation fuel was present. All major components were located near the main wreckage.
The left wing was impact-separated at the wing root and found about 40 feet before the main wreckage. The outboard leading edge of the left wing was crushed aft. The rudder and vertical stabilizer were impact-separated and located about 20 feet before the main wreckage. The horizontal stabilator remained attached. The right wing was impact-separated but remained connected via cables. Flight control continuity was established to all surfaces.
The engine was removed for examination. Crankshaft and valvetrain continuity were confirmed by rotating the propeller hub. Thumb compression and suction were present on all cylinders. Spark plugs showed two oil-soaked plugs, while others were light gray and in new condition. Both magnetos produced spark. No anomalies that would have precluded normal operation were found.
The fixed-pitch propeller remained attached. One blade was bent aft about 45° with leading edge gouging and chordwise scratching. The other blade was slightly bent aft with similar damage and tip tearing.
Additional Information
The airplane’s pilot operating handbook “Take-off Distance – Grass Surface” performance chart was interpolated for conditions of 11°C and 750 feet elevation. Estimated ground roll with zero wind was 1,236 feet, and distance to clear a 50-foot obstacle was 2,068 feet. The chart did not include a tailwind component multiplier penalty.