N41MK

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 25, 2011, at 2036 central daylight time, a Beech model A36 airplane, N41MK, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during a forced landing near Williston, North Dakota. The pilot was fatally injured. The passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by Bonanza Air Incorporated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that departed Sloulin Field International Airport (ISN), Williston, North Dakota, about 2018.

According to the passenger, the purpose of the flight was to take aerial photographs of a nearby oil well installation and a cabin belonging to a relative of the pilot. The passenger arrived at the departure airport around 2000 and observed the pilot perform a preflight inspection of the airplane. After departure, the flight proceeded eastbound to photograph the oil well installation. The passenger noted that the entire flight was flown at a low altitude and that his photos were taken from the right cockpit passenger seat. After taking several photos of the oil well installation the flight proceeded to overfly the cabin. The passenger recalled that shortly before the accident, the pilot remarked that the engine was not operating normally and asked him to look for a suitable landing area. He believed that the engine was still running at that time. The pilot located an open landing area and was in the process of landing when the right wing collided with the terrain. The passenger noted that the airplane slid for a short distance and that he was able to pull himself out of the airplane before calling 911 for assistance.

A foreman working at a nearby oil drilling installation stated that he and two of his employees saw the airplane flying at a low altitude over their worksite. He noted that the airplane's altitude was comparable to those flown by aerial-application airplanes during crop-dusting operations. He could not recall if the engine was operating as it passed his position. He noted that the airplane was flying straight-and-level before it collided with the terrain. He responded immediately to the accident site and provided assistance to the passenger until the arrival of emergency personnel. He also noted that he attempted to stop a fuel leak on the right wing using several towels. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONAccording to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot, age 53, held a private pilot certificate with single engine land airplane and instrument airplane ratings. His last aviation medical examination was completed on February 16, 2010, when he was issued a third-class medical certificate with a restriction for corrective lenses. A search of FAA records showed no previous accidents, incidents, or enforcement proceedings.

The most recent pilot logbook entry was dated July 24, 2011. At that time, the pilot had accumulated 1,721.4 hours total flight time. The logbook indicated that all of his flight experience had been completed in single-engine land airplanes, which included 1,595.9 hours in the accident airplane. He had logged 129.7 hours during the past year, 59.8 hours during the prior 6 months, 25.5 hours during previous 90 days, and 17.8 hours in the last 30 days. The logbook indicated that he had flown 3.2 hours within the 24 hour period before the accident. The pilot's last flight review was completed on May 8, 2009, in the accident airplane. The logbook included an instructor endorsement to operate complex airplanes, which was dated November 4, 2010. (FAA guidance stipulated that a complex endorsement would also qualify for a flight review, although regulations require that both items be identified on the instructor's logbook endorsement.) AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONThe accident airplane was a 1975 Beech model A36 airplane, serial number E-662. A 300-horsepower Continental Motors model IO-550-C (8)CB4 reciprocating engine, serial number 824409-R, powered the airplane. The stock engine had been modified with a turbo-normalizing induction system that was installed by Tornado Alley Turbo under the provisions of FAA Supplemental Type Certificate No. SA5223NM. The airplane was equipped with a constant-speed, three blade, Hartzell model PHC-C3YF-1RF propeller. The airplane had a retractable tricycle landing gear, could seat six individuals, and had a certified maximum gross weight of 4,000 pounds.

The accident airplane was issued a standard airworthiness certificate on March 11, 1975. The current owner-of-record, Bonanza Air Incorporated, purchased the airplane on July 18, 2005.

The recording tachometer indicated 6,172.27 hours at the accident site. The airframe had accumulated a total service time of 6,172.27 hours at the time of the accident. The engine had accumulated a total service time of 2,619.17 hours at the time of the accident. The engine had accumulated 711.27 hours since a field overhaul on August 1, 2008. The engine had accumulated 115.27 hours since a top-overhaul that was completed on January 7, 2011. The propeller had accumulated a total service time of 321.27 hours at the time of the accident. The last annual inspection of the airplane was completed on September 29, 2010, at 5,993.0 total airframe hours.

A postaccident review of the maintenance records found no history of unresolved airworthiness issues.

A review of fueling records established that on July 24, 2011, the airplane fuel tanks were topped-off (74 gallons useable) with 60.3 gallons of aviation fuel before the pilot departed on a 3.1 hour cross-country flight from Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC), Denver, Colorado, to Sloulin Field International Airport (ISN), Williston, North Dakota. According to available fueling records, the airplane was not refueled following the cross-country flight. The accident occurred during the airplane's first flight since completing the 3.1 hour cross-country flight between BJC and ISN. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATIONThe nearest aviation weather reporting station was located at the Sloulin Field International Airport (ISN), Williston, North Dakota, about 19.5 miles west of the accident site. At 2052, the ISN weather observing system reported: wind 110 degrees at 10 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear sky conditions, temperature 26 degrees Celsius, dew point 14 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.84 inches-of-mercury. AIRPORT INFORMATIONThe accident airplane was a 1975 Beech model A36 airplane, serial number E-662. A 300-horsepower Continental Motors model IO-550-C (8)CB4 reciprocating engine, serial number 824409-R, powered the airplane. The stock engine had been modified with a turbo-normalizing induction system that was installed by Tornado Alley Turbo under the provisions of FAA Supplemental Type Certificate No. SA5223NM. The airplane was equipped with a constant-speed, three blade, Hartzell model PHC-C3YF-1RF propeller. The airplane had a retractable tricycle landing gear, could seat six individuals, and had a certified maximum gross weight of 4,000 pounds.

The accident airplane was issued a standard airworthiness certificate on March 11, 1975. The current owner-of-record, Bonanza Air Incorporated, purchased the airplane on July 18, 2005.

The recording tachometer indicated 6,172.27 hours at the accident site. The airframe had accumulated a total service time of 6,172.27 hours at the time of the accident. The engine had accumulated a total service time of 2,619.17 hours at the time of the accident. The engine had accumulated 711.27 hours since a field overhaul on August 1, 2008. The engine had accumulated 115.27 hours since a top-overhaul that was completed on January 7, 2011. The propeller had accumulated a total service time of 321.27 hours at the time of the accident. The last annual inspection of the airplane was completed on September 29, 2010, at 5,993.0 total airframe hours.

A postaccident review of the maintenance records found no history of unresolved airworthiness issues.

A review of fueling records established that on July 24, 2011, the airplane fuel tanks were topped-off (74 gallons useable) with 60.3 gallons of aviation fuel before the pilot departed on a 3.1 hour cross-country flight from Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC), Denver, Colorado, to Sloulin Field International Airport (ISN), Williston, North Dakota. According to available fueling records, the airplane was not refueled following the cross-country flight. The accident occurred during the airplane's first flight since completing the 3.1 hour cross-country flight between BJC and ISN. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONA postaccident investigation confirmed that all airframe structural and flight control components were located at the accident site. The accident site consisted of open, rolling terrain. The wreckage debris path began about 109 feet west of the main wreckage and consisted of navigational lens cover fragments. There was a large ground depression located about 20 feet from the initial debris. The main wreckage consisted of the entire airframe, flight controls, engine, and propeller. The main wreckage was facing a heading of south. The topography of the accident site and orientation of the wreckage resulted in the right wing being higher than the left wing.

Flight control continuity was established between the individual flight control surfaces and their respective cockpit controls. The flaps and landing gear were fully retracted. The throttle, propeller, and mixture controls were found in the full forward position. Mechanical continuity was confirmed from the engine components to their respective cockpit engine controls. The magneto-ignition switch was found in the LEFT position. The electrical fuel pump was found in the OFF position. The fuel selector valve was positioned to draw fuel from the left wing fuel tank. About 21 gallons of fuel (18 gallons useable) was recovered from the left...