History of Flight
On June 7, 2022, about 0930 Pacific daylight time, a Beech 77 Skipper, N18244, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Hemet, California. The student pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.
The student pilot's flight instructor reported that he had authorized the student pilot to conduct his second cross-country solo flight, departing from Redlands Municipal Airport (REI), Redlands, California, and flying about 25 nautical miles south to Hemet-Ryan Airport (HMT), Hemet, California. According to FAA SAIB CE 09-35, the airplane was operating in serious icing conditions when the engine was operated using glide power. The pilot operating handbook (POH) identified the maximum glide airspeed as 63 knots.
A witness piloting an airplane in the HMT traffic pattern reported that he heard the student pilot transmit a radio call over the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) stating, "Right downwind for 23, I have no power." As the witness turned onto the left downwind leg, he saw the accident airplane about midfield over runway 23 and descending through about 150 feet above ground level (agl). He reported that the airplane was flying faster than a normal approach speed. He heard a transmission stating, "going around," and subsequently, the airplane overflew the departure end of runway 23 by about 100 feet agl. The witness lost sight of the airplane and shortly after observed a plume of smoke in the distance.
A second witness, an employee at HMT, reported that he heard a distress call over the CTAF declaring an emergency and a loss of power. He reported that the airplane had made two touch-and-go landings and had aborted the third landing to runway 23. During the third approach, the airplane did not touch down on the runway and remained about 30 feet agl before aborting the landing. The witness reported that the airplane made a left turn and touched down in a dirt field.
Ground markings in the field revealed that the airplane touched down three times. The ground scars showed a veer to the right, just before crossing over a three-lane asphalt highway, colliding with a curb, and impacting a cinder block wall near a residence. The total ground roll distance was about 665 feet.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane collided with a retaining wall on the east side of a road. The airplane's engine, cabin, left wing root, and right wing breached the 8-foot-high cinder block retaining wall and sustained thermal damage. The engine separated from the airframe at the firewall and consequently did not sustain thermal damage. The aft fuselage and the empennage did not breach the wall and did not sustain thermal damage.
Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the airplane’s fuel system, electrical system, induction, and exhaust systems sustained impact and thermal damage, which restricted the confirmation of the ignition switch, throttle, mixture, carburetor heat, and flap positions. The examination of the fuel selector valve revealed that the fuel selector remained in the "On" position.
Post-accident examination of the engine revealed thumb compression on all cylinders, and drivetrain continuity was confirmed throughout. The left and right magnetos were function tested and current was observed.
The fixed pitch, two-bladed propeller remained attached to the engine crankshaft flange. One propeller blade exhibited bending to the non-camber side, with blade tip curling, chordwise scratches, and leading-edge gouges. The opposite blade exhibited bending emanating from the outboard 1/3 to the blade tip, as well as chordwise scratches emanating from the leading edge.
Medical and Pathological Information
The FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory conducted toxicology testing. Carboxyhemoglobin and ethanol were not detected. Lidocaine, ketamine, and the metabolite norketamine were detected. The pilot succumbed to his injuries in the hospital, and these drugs were most likely administered during acute medical care.