NTSB Identification: NYC08FA174
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, May 03, 2008 in Americus, GA
Aircraft: Beech A35, registration: N546B
Injuries: 3 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. 

On May 3, 2008, at 1835 eastern daylight time (EDT), a Beech A35, N546B, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after takeoff. The certificated private pilot and the two passengers were killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight which departed Souther Field Airport (ACJ), Americus, Georgia, for Bessemer Airport (EKY), Bessemer, Alabama. The personal flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91.

The accident occurred during the hours of daylight. The wreckage was located at 32 degrees, 06.489 north latitude, 084 degrees, 11.368 west longitude, at an elevation of 464 feet mean sea level (msl).

According to eyewitness reports, the airplane departed runway 23, became airborne, and at approximately 100 feet above ground level (agl), "the airplane began to make a left bank." The airplane continued until the wings were almost perpendicular to the ground, lost altitude and crashed adjacent to the parallel taxiway.

The airplane initially impacted the ground to the east of the parallel taxiway. The airplane displayed impact and post impact fire damage. The nose of the airplane came to rest on a heading of 285 degrees. The outboard section of the right wing exhibited leading edge damage and remained attached to the fuselage. The right flap actuator was measured and correlated to the flaps zero, fully retracted position. The inboard section of the left wing and cabin were consumed by post impact fire. The tail section, which consisted of the ruddervator control surface, was attached and sustained impact damage. The pitch trim actuator was measured and correlated to a five degree tab trailing edge up position.

The propeller hub remained attached to the crankshaft and the spinner was crushed. One propeller blade was detached and located at the initial impact point, approximately three feet forward of the main wreckage. It exhibited chordwise scratches and was bent in the direction of rotation. The other propeller blade remained attached and showed slight S-bending.

The engine was a Continental Motors E-185-8, serial number 21378-D-2-8, and showed evidence of fire damage in all areas. The top spark plugs were removed and were identified as Champion REM-38P, except for the number one spark plug, the type of which was not identified. The engine crankshaft was rotated using the propeller; continuity of the crankshaft was confirmed on all cylinders and to the rear of the engine. Thumb compression and suction was produced on all six cylinders. The interior of all cylinders where inspected using a lighted borescope; normal combustion deposits were observed on the piston heads and cylinder domes. Most of the carburetor was destroyed by fire but the inlet fuel screen was located and was free of debris. The throttle, mixture, and carburetor heat controls were all attached to their respective actuating arms, due to fire damage the position was unable to be confirmed. The oil filter showed impact and fire damage. No metallic debris was noted on the oil filter element. The magnetos exhibited fire damage and were destroyed. The fuel pump and the vacuum pump were not located. The fuel selector was located but was damaged; further examination by a Hawker Beechcraft representative revealed that the left wing was the selected position.

The entry door was located approximately 15 feet from the main wreckage. The upper hook latch and upper hook receiver were deformed due to impact forces.

The markings on the side of the aircraft were NC546B; the corresponding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records indicated re-registration to be N546B.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land, with a restriction of night flying prohibited. His most recent third-class medical certificate was issued May of 2007.

The reported weather at Albany, Georgia (ABY), located approximately 35 miles from the accident site, at 1853 (EDT), included winds from 210 degrees at 06 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 19 degrees Celsius, dew point 16 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.97 inches of mercury.