N2053YBeech V35B · 1978

On March 24, 2017, about 1520 central daylight time, a Beechcraft V35B airplane, N2053Y, impacted terrain near Union City, Oklahoma. The pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to JE Aviation LLC, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and operated by a private individual under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal fight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the airplane was not on a flight plan. The local flight originated from the Chickasha Municipal Airport (KCHK), Chickasha, Oklahoma.

A review of radar data revealed that the flight originated from KCHK (elevation 1,152 ft) about 1510. After departure, the airplane turned to a northerly heading and climbed to 5,500 ft. The radar tracked the airplane northward before the airplane slowed and disappeared from the radar. The last radar point at 1519 recorded the airplane at 73 knots and 5,250 ft in the vicinity of the accident site.

The pilot was not in contact with an air traffic control facility nor was he required to be.

A witness reported hearing the airplane and then seeing it descending in a "spin;" the airplane disappeared behind a tree line and a fire erupted. Another witness said that he heard the airplane, stating that "the engine sounded weird, like cutting in and out." The witness added that he heard the crash and saw smoke and fire.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. The pilot's third-class medical certificate was issued on October 20, 2015, with the limitation: "must wear corrective lenses." A review of the pilot's logbook revealed that he had 286.5 hours total flight and 19.3 hours in the accident airplane.

The Beechcraft V35B is a 4-place, low-wing, single-engine airplane with retractable landing gear. The accident airplane was powered by a 300-horsepower, 6-cylinder, reciprocating Continental IO-550 engine, which drove a constant-speed propeller. The normally aspirated engine was modified with the addition of a turbocharger. The airplane was also modified with two 20-gallon wing tip fuel tanks. These modifications were approved under supplemental type certificates (STCs). A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed the airplane's most recent annual inspection was conducted on January 16, 2017, at a total airframe time of 5,074.5 hours. A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records revealed that JE Aviation LLC's purchase of the airplane was completed on March 2, 2017.

At 1535, the weather observation facility located at KCHK, located about 18 miles south of the accident site, recorded wind 220° at 22 knots gusting to 29 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear sky, temperature 77°F, dew point 36°F, and an altimeter setting of 29.69 inches of mercury.

Astronomical data from the U.S. Navy Observatory for Chickasha recorded a sunrise on March 24, 2017, at 0704 and sunset at 1947.

The Beechcraft V35B is a 4-place, low-wing, single-engine airplane with retractable landing gear. The accident airplane was powered by a 300-horsepower, 6-cylinder, reciprocating Continental IO-550 engine, which drove a constant-speed propeller. The normally aspirated engine was modified with the addition of a turbocharger. The airplane was also modified with two 20-gallon wing tip fuel tanks. These modifications were approved under supplemental type certificates (STCs). A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed the airplane's most recent annual inspection was conducted on January 16, 2017, at a total airframe time of 5,074.5 hours. A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records revealed that JE Aviation LLC's purchase of the airplane was completed on March 2, 2017.

The airplane impacted an open field located in a rural, lightly wooded area. A postcrash fire consumed most of the airplane and ignited a brush/grass fire which also consumed small buildings located near a residence.

The on-site examination of the of the impact site revealed an absence of a wreckage path, and small ground creators, near the engine and right-wing tip. Damage to the nose of the airplane, wings, and the flat position of the wreckage along with the ground scars, are were consistent with the airplane impacting terrain in a slightly right-wing-down, nose-low attitude, with little forward velocity.

The airplane's fuselage and wings were largely consumed by the fire, leaving heavier structures and an outline of the components. Flight control continuity from the control column to both the left and right ailerons bellcranks was confirmed. The ruddervator cables were traced to the control column and rudder pedals. The control column and pedals were impact-damaged; however, the attaching hardware for the flight controls was in place. All three of the airplane's landing gear were in the "down" position with the gear actuator in the extended (gear down) position. The cabin's instrument panel and avionics were destroyed by impact and fire damage.

After the initial on-site documentation of the wreckage, the airplane was recovered and transported to a salvage facility. A detailed engine examination was conducted on April 20, 2017, at the salvage facility by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge and a technical representative from the engine manufacturer.

The engine received extensive fire damage and impact damage, and the three-bladed propeller remained attached to the crankshaft flange. Initially, the engine would not rotate by hand; however, when an extension was applied to the crankshaft, a "pop" was heard and the crankshaft would rotate with difficulty. Later, when the engine was disassembled, it was confirmed that the camshaft had broken just before the camshaft gear. No preimpact abnormalities were noted with the crankshaft or through the valve train. The magnetos were fire damaged and could not be field tested. The fuel metering unit, manifold, and fuel pump were examined; all had either fire or impact damage. The turbocharger had impact damage and was partially melted. The top set of sparkplugs were removed; the plugs exhibited light colored combustion deposits; and the electrodes exhibited normal signatures.

Although the examination was limited by thermal and impact damage, no pre-impact abnormalities were noted during the airframe or engine examinations.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma conducted an autopsy on the pilot. The cause of death was determined to be "multiple blunt force injuries and thermal injury"

The FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, conducted toxicological testing on the pilot. The specimens were not tested for cyanide and carbon monoxide. The tests were negative for ethanol and positive for aproxen, and ertraline.

Naproxen is an overthecounter anti-inflammatory pain medication commonly marketed with the names Naprosyn and Aleve; it is not impairing. Desmethylsertraline is a metabolite of ertraline, which is an antidepressant prescription medication, often marketed under the name Zoloft. While Zoloft is not generally considered impairing, the underlying depression can impair cognition, judgment, and slow psychomotor responses. As a result, depression is a disqualifying condition to the FAA, but medical certificates may be issued if the depression is in remission for at least 6 months. In this case, personal medical records were not obtained and the status of the pilot's psychiatric illness at the time of the accident is unknown.