On September 1, 2007, at 1033 eastern daylight time, a Beech A36, N326DK, registered to and operated by a private individual, impacted up sloping terrain of Holston Mountain, Elizabethton, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight from Elizabethton Municipal Airport (0A9), to Virginia Highlands Airport (VJI), Abingdon, Virginia. The airplane was destroyed and the commercial-rated pilot and four passengers were fatally injured. The flight originated about 1029, from 0A9.

Witnesses reported that the airplane landed at 0A9 on runway 06 at approximately 1001 hours, taxied to the south side of the airport, and without securing the engine, boarded 2 waiting passengers. The airplane was observed taxiing towards the approach end of runway 24, but an airplane was being towed on the taxiway at that time. The accident airplane turned around and taxied to the approach end of runway 06, no engine run-up was heard before takeoff. The pilot began the takeoff roll from runway 06 with all available runway, and a pilot-rated witness located on the north side of the airport reported the airplane became airborne when it was 2/3 down the runway. The witness reported the airplane did not appear to be climbing very well and continued on the runway heading for approximately 1 mile.

Another pilot-rated witness who was located approximately 1,500 feet east-northeast from the departure end of runway 06 reported that the airplane flew 200 yards behind his house between 75 and 100 feet above ground level (agl) or "exceptionally low." The airplane was in a steep climb attitude, flying slow with what he thought was the landing gear retracted; there was nothing unusual from the engine.

NTSB Identification: MIA07FA137
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, September 01, 2007 in Elizabethton, TN
Aircraft: Beech A36, registration: N326DK
Injuries: 5 Fatal.

 
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.