On June 28, 2019, a Beechcraft BE-58 crashed during an approach to Hiawatha Municipal Airport (K87) in Kansas. The pilot was killed in the crash, which destroyed the airplane.
The pilot was not in contact with air traffic control during the cross-country flight from Augusta Municipal Airport (3AU) in Kansas. Review of radar information revealed that the airplane proceeded in a northeast direction from 3AU toward K87, the pilot’s destination. However, the flight track stopped about 3/4 mile northeast of K87 and the final minutes of the flight were not captured.
A witness reported that the airplane approached the airport from the south and then proceeded north-northeast as if to enter the traffic pattern. He added that the airplane appeared to climb and then started a left turn. Just after starting the turn, the airplane flipped inverted, the nose dropped, and the plane descended from view behind terrain. The witness saw smoke and called 911.
The wreckage was found in a corn field about a mile northeast of K87. The airplane hit terrain on its bottom fuselage and came to rest upright on a 171° heading. A post-crash fire consumed a majority of the cabin and the inboard section of the wings. The wreckage was confined to one area, and all major components were accounted for on-site.
Flight control continuity was limited through the center section of the fuselage due to fire damage, however, the connection at each of the flight control surfaces was confirmed.
The cockpit/instrument panel was impact and fire damaged. The landing gear handle appeared to be in the down/landing gear extended position. A review of the landing gear actuator position corroborated the landing gear was in the down position. The right flap actuator was partially extended, which corresponded to a flap’s 15° extended position.
The left and right engines remained attached to the airframe. Both engines had impact and fire damage. The right 3-bladed propeller separated from the engine crankshaft flange and was located underneath the airplane. The left 3-bladed propeller remained attached to the engine. Neither propeller was in the feathered position
Both engines were rotated by hand, and thumb compression and suction were noted on each cylinder. The valve covers were removed and continuity through the valve train to the accessory section was observed. The left engine’s left magneto produced spark at each terminal; the engine’s right magneto was fire damaged and would not rotate. The right engine’s left magneto produced spark at each terminal. The right magneto was fire damaged and did not produce spark at the terminals, however spark was observed at the magneto points.
Each engine’s fuel system, including the fuel manifold, fuel pump, fuel nozzles, and fuel screen were field examined, and no pre-impact abnormalities were noted. The top set of sparkplugs were removed from both engines, and normal combustion and wear signatures were observed.
Though the examination was limited by thermal and impact damage, no pre-impact abnormalities were observed during the airframe or engines examinations that would have precluded normal operations.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s loss of control for undetermined reasons.
This June 2019 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
