Beechcraft C23 N48DB

Summary

On 14 July 2004 at about 14:00 local time, a Beechcraft C23 registered N48DB, operated by William Hetrick, was involved in an accident near Morrilton, Arkansas, United States. 4 people were on board and one died, 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 July 2004 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Morrilton, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Heifer Creek Ranch Airport (16AR)

Coordinates

35.3011, -92.5733

Aircraft

Beechcraft C23

Registration

N48DB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

William Hetrick

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sprigfield → Memphis

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW04LA183

1 person died.

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation to assure adequate takeoff performance to clear obstacles.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 26.000-hour airline transport pilot attempted to depart on a cross-country flight from a 2,000-turf airstrip. The airplane collided with powerlines that ran perpendicular to the departure end of the 2,000-foot grass airstrip while attempting to takeoff upslope. The grass on the turf runway was reported to be about 5-inches long on the day of the accident. A post-impact fire consumed most of the airframe. Using reported weights provided by occupants of the airplane and family members, the airplane was found to have exceeded its maximum gross weight of 2,450 pounds by 210 pounds. The air temperature reported at the time of the accident was 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The investigator-in-charge calculated the density altitude to be 2,845 feet at the time of the accident. Post-accident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies or defects that could have prevented normal flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.