ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 135313
Last updated: 23 May 2013
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| Date: | 08-OCT-2003 |
| Time: | 1825 |
| Type: | Twin Commander Acft. Corp. 680FL |
| Operator: | War Eagle Aviation Llc |
| Registration: | N680WS |
| C/n / msn: | 1413-63 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Harrison, AR -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | ASG |
| HRO |
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On October 8, 2003, approximately 1825 central daylight time, a Twin Commander 680FL, twin-engine airplane, N680WS, registered to War Eagle Aviation LLC., of Wilmington, Delaware, and operated by Community First Bank of Harrison, Arkansas, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a loss of power to both engines while on final approach to land on runway 18 at Boon County Airport (HRO), near Harrison, Arkansas. The private pilot and a pilot rated passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Springdale Municipal Airport (ASG), Springdale, Arkansas at 1745.
During an interview conducted by the NTSB investigator-in charge (IIC), the pilot stated that he had flown the airplane from HRO to St. Louis, Missouri, and then flew to ASG to pick up the pilot-rated passenger for the final leg of the flight back to HRO. The pilot and pilot rated passenger stated that during the departure sequence from ASG, both fuel selectors were in the main tank positions. The pilot leveled off at 5,500 feet MSL, turn the electric fuel boost pumps to the "on" position, switched the fuel selectors to auxiliary fuel tank positions, then turned the electric fuel boost pumps to the "off" position. Approximately 10 to 15 minutes later, about 17 miles from the airport, the pilot activated the electric fuel boost pumps and switched the fuel selectors from the auxiliary fuel tank positions to the main fuel tank positions. The pilot recalled that the fuel gauges indicated approximately 70 gallons of fuel in the main tank and about 10-15 gallons of fuel in the auxiliary tanks. The flight continued to the destination airport for approximately 5-7 minutes, entered the pattern, lowered the landing gear, and selected "approach" flaps. Upon completion of the base leg to final turn, approximately 1-1.5 miles from the approach end of runway 18, the airplane yawed to the left and the left engine "quit." The pilot rated passenger stated, "I think it's the left engine," and then the right engine "quit." Both left and right propellers were feathered. The airplane then impacted a 70-foot high tree about 45 feet from ground level, impacted the ground 50 yards from the tree, and came to rest in a ditch approximately 1,000 feet short of Runway 18.
Four witnesses who heard and observed the airplane just prior to and during the accident reported the following information to the NTSB IIC:
#1: The manager of a fixed base operator (FBO) on the airport stated that he heard a normal radio transmission from N680WS on UNICOM frequency to enter the pattern for runway 18. Next, he heard the downwind radio call and he didn't think that it was the pilot's voice on the radio. Shortly after that he heard another radio call from N680WS, which was, "final for 18." He stated that he recognized that this last transmission was the pilot's voice.
#2: A lineman for the FBO first "heard" engines and observed the airplane as it came over the airport from the west. He stated that the airplane looked normal, and then the airplane made a left turn onto downwind, and continued. Next he observed N680WS turn left onto base then final. Once established on final he noticed that both engines had stopped, and then the left wing drooped and the airplane went below the horizon.
#3: A person, who was burning leaves 1.5 miles northeast of the approach end of runway 18, stated that he heard the airplane fly over and then heard a "backfire sound coming from it." He "didn't think anything about it because [he heard] planes all the time, and sometimes they cut their power to practice landings." He added that about a minute or two later, he and his girlfriend heard two "crashing" sounds.
#4: A person, who was driving a vehicle on Hwy 65 just north of the approach end of runway 18, stated that he saw the airplane on final approach to runway
Sources:
NTSB id 20031017X01767
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