Beechcraft BE-60 N7272D

Summary

On 3 March 2002 at about 19:50 local time, a Beechcraft BE-60 registered N7272D, operated by Dale Lee Lockart, was involved in an accident near Mexia, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 March 2002 at 19:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Mexia, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Limestone County (LXY)

Coordinates

31.6192, -96.5028

Aircraft

Beechcraft BE-60

Registration

N7272D

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Dale Lee Lockart

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mexia → Aurora

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL02FA058

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to remove the control lock before the flight and his failure to follow the checklist.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot arrived at Mexia-Limestone County Airport (TX06), Mexia, Texas, sometime before 1100. Once onboard the airplane, a witness, and an acquaintance of the pilot, closed and locked the airplane's cabin door for the pilot, and walked away from the airplane. He also reported that after the engines to the airplane were started, the airplane stayed on the ramp and idled for 10 to 15 minutes. No one saw the pilot taxi to the runway, but he taxied to the north end of Runway 18 for a downwind takeoff to the south. Examination of the accident site found the wreckage oriented along a path consistent with an extended centerline of runway 18. The airplane was found along a fence line approximately 1/4 mile from the departure end of Runway 18. The airplane's track was along a 183-degree bearing, and there was a large burn area prior to and around the debris zone along the wreckage path. Examination of the cockpit revealed a 9/16-inch hex-head bolt inserted in the control lock pinhole for the control column. Under normal procedures Cockpit Check in the Duke 60 Airplane Flight Manual, for Preflight Inspection the first item listed is: 1. "Control Locks - REMOVE and STOW". In addition, under normal procedures Before Starting check list in the Duke 60 Airplane Flight Manual, the forth item to check is listed as: 4. "Flight Controls - FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT and PROPER RESPONSE"

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.