Beechcraft BE-55 N62JF

Summary

On 6 September 2003 at about 18:20 local time, a Beechcraft BE-55 registered N62JF was involved in an accident near Winder, Georgia, 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

6 September 2003 at 18:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Winder, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Winder-Barrow (WDR)

Coordinates

33.9961, -83.6706

Aircraft

Beechcraft BE-55

Registration

N62JF

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Winder → Lawrenceville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL03FA136

1 person died.

The pilot's inadequate preflight preparation in which he failed to secure the cabin door which diverted his attention and resulted in the failure to maintain directional control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A pilot who was holding short for takeoff on runway 5 behind the accident airplane stated the accident airplane became airborne just past taxiway "C" intersection. The airplane reached about 10 feet when the nose dropped down abruptly to the right, the airplane collided with the runway, and bounced back into the air. The pilot observed a dark shape on the right side of the airplane and concluded the accident airplane cabin door had opened. The accident airplane was observed to make a shallow crosswind turn to the left, nose high, at a slow airspeed. The pilot stated he called the accident pilot on the airplane radio and asked if he was ok. The accident pilot stated he had problems and was going to make an emergency landing followed by, " I am not going to make it." A witness on the ground stated he observed the airplane make a steep left bank estimated between 40 to 45 degree angle of bank. The airplane collided with a tree, rolled to the left, pitched nose down, hit a power line and collided with the ground. A post crash fire ensued. Examination of the crash site revealed the airplane collided with a tree and the ground. The cabin door lock was not locked. The right propeller blade tips were curled aft and all three-propeller blades on the left engine sustained minimal impact damage. No anomalies were noted with the left and right engine assembly.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.