N7618RBeech B23 · 1969

On July 4, 2019, about 1355 central daylight time, a Beech B23 airplane, N7618R, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Mitchell's Airport (3MS5), near Vaiden, Mississippi. The pilot and one passenger were seriously injured and two passengers received minor injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot reported that following a sightseeing flight, he flew a visual pattern to 3MS5 and configured the airplane with flaps full down. He recalled that the airspeed was excessive while on final approach, which resulted in the airplane floating about halfway down the 2,500 ft turf runway. During the pilot's go-around, he perceived that the engine responded normally and produced power. With flaps full down, the pilot noticed the climb rate was not enough to clear trees at the end of the runway.

The pilot pulled back on the yoke to clear the trees and subsequently recognized that the airplane was in an aerodynamic stall condition, so he relaxed back pressure on the yoke to decrease the airplane's pitch attitude. The airplane impacted rising terrain about 330 ft beyond the departure end of the runway; both wings and the fuselage sustained substantial damage.

Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the pilot's estimate of passenger weights, the airplane was near its maximum gross weight during the approach.