N80UL

On April 6, 1999, at 0450 central daylight time, a Beech 58, N80UL, collided with the ground and burst into flames during an instrument approach to runway 2C at the Nashville International Airport in Nashville, Tennessee. The cargo flight was operated by Paragon Air Express Inc., under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 135 with an instrument flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot received minor injuries. The flight departed Memphis, Tennessee, at 0340.

The pilot reported that upon arriving in the Nashville area, the approach controller issued him an approach clearance to runway 2C. While on final approach, the pilot recalled that there were rain showers and high winds associated with thunderstorm activity in the immediate vicinity of the approach facilities. Upon realizing that his final approach altitude was too high, the pilot requested a 2L landing; the controller cleared the flight to land on runway 2L. The airplane collided with the ground as the pilot maneuvered for a landing back to runway 2C (see attached pilot accident report form).

Examination of the accident site disclosed that the airplane came to rest about 200 yards left of the approach end of runway 2C, and was oriented on a southwest heading. There was extensive fire damage to both outboard panels of the wing assembly. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane during the flight. The pilot reported experiencing moderate rain and strong winds out of the northwest while maneuvering for the landing.

A review of the pilot's flight training records disclosed that the pilot completed his initial operation training on January 11, 1999. The pilot had accumulated a total of 1353 flight hours as a pilot of which 176 hours had been flown in the Beech 58.

A review of the available runways at Nashville International Airport revealed that runway 31 was available and is 11,000 feet long. The prevailing winds at the time of the accident were 300 degrees at 19 knots with wind gust to 20 knots. According to the flight manual for the Beech 58, the cross wind component is approximately 19 knots.