N6985Q

On June 1, 1995, at 1641 hours Pacific daylight time, a Beech B23, N6985Q, crashed during takeoff at Mariposa Airport, Mariposa, California. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the local flight. The flight originated at 1500 as a local area personal flight.

In the Pilot/Operator written report, the pilot stated that while on his fourth takeoff, the airplane "quit flying, bounced across meridian between runway and taxiway, slid across the taxiway and stopped." The pilot stated that observers and witnesses told him that the airplane's engine backfired and it sounded like the engine throttled back then forward again. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Fresno, California, Flight Standards District Office, found no witnesses who gave a report similar to the pilot's impression.

According to the FAA inspector, the pilot was doing pattern work at the Mariposa airport on runway 26. The inspector reported that the pilot said he lost directional control at lift-off, veered off the left side of the runway, and collided with the taxiway. Damage to the propeller, the nose gear, the nose cowling, lower engine mount, and firewall resulted.

The pilot did not report his flight time in the 90-day period prior to the accident. Review of the aircraft maintenance records disclosed that the aircraft has flown only 7 hours since August of 1994.

After the accident, the airplane was examined by an airframe and powerplant mechanic. The mechanic did not find any discrepancy in the airframe or the engine.