1995 — Sep 10, Plane Crash, Peninsula Sky Diving Club, West Point, VA — 12
— 12 Aircraft Crashes Record Office (Geneva, Switzerland). Virginia.
— 12 NTSB. Special Investigation Report on the Safety of Parachute Jump Operations, p. 38.
Narrative Information
NTSB: “On September 10, 1995, a Beech 65, N945PA, operated by the Peninsula Sky Diving Club, crashed following a loss of power in one engine during takeoff from the West Point Municipal Airport, West Point, Virginia. The airline transport pilot, 10 parachutists, and 1 person in a house were killed. Witnesses reported that they heard an engine misfiring during the airplane’s takeoff and that they observed the airplane level off during the initial climb and start a shallow right turn. The bank angle gradually increased from shallow to steep as the nose dropped and the airplane descended. Other witnesses observed that the airplane was in a steep dive just before it crashed into the rear of a house and caught fire.
“The airplane had flown seven parachute operations flights before the accident flight that day. After the seventh flight, the airplane needed refueling, but the quantity of fuel in the airport’s underground fuel storage tank was below the electric cutoff level. A pilot witness stated that “it was suggested that we could, by using a hand pump, get some more fuel from the airport tank.” The witness and others, including parachutists, manually pumped fuel into containers and carried them to the airplane to refuel it. A witness described that two jugs were used at first, and then another one was found in the hangar. A small amount of liquid that smelled like fuel was dumped from the jug before it was used in refueling the accident airplane.
“Examination of the airplane revealed that the postaccident fire destroyed the accessory sections of both engines. Examination of the airplane disclosed evidence that the right engine had been shut down and that the right propeller had been feathered; however, no pre-impact mechanical failure was found. A sample of excess fuel was obtained from the tank that was used to refuel the airplane, but no observable quantity of water or contamination was found.
“Investigators calculated that, for the accident flight, the airplane’s maximum gross weight was exceeded by 149.6 lbs and that the cg was 2.87 inches aft of the aft limit. Also, the airplane’s seats and cabin door had been removed for parachute operations; however, the Beech 65 was not on the FAA-approved eligibility list for operation with its door removed. The operator provided investigators a flight manual supplement (FMS) that appeared to authorize such door removal, but examination of the document revealed that it had been altered by an unknown person. An unaltered FAA-approved FMS contained a signed and dated eligibility block that listed model “A65”; however, the copy of the document provided by the operator had been altered to remove the “A,” thus, falsely giving the appearance that Beech “65” was eligible.
“In addition, the airplane’s maintenance records did not indicate when the cabin seats were removed, but an FAA Form 337 showed floor-mounted seatbelts installed on October 16, 1990. The form stated that the aircraft weight and balance had been recalculated and logbook records updated. No such weight and balance figures were found in the logbooks. Additional modifications were made in May and June 1995 and Form 337s were submitted. The Form 337s stated that the airplane’s weight and balance had been recalculated and the records updated; however, no entries were made in airframe logbook.
“The Safety Board determined that the probable cause of the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight preparation, his failure to ensure the airplane’s proper weight and balance, and his failure to obtain/maintain minimum control speed, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control after loss of power in one engine. A factor relating to the accident was the loss of power in the right engine for undetermined reasons.” (NTSB. Special Investigation Report on the Safety of Parachute Jump Operations (NTSB/SIR-08/01). Adopted 9-16-2008, pp. 38-39.)
Sources
Aircraft Crashes Record Office (Geneva, Switzerland). Virginia. Accessed 3/12/2009 at: http://www.baaa-acro.com/Pays/Etats-Unis/Virginie.htm
National Transportation Safety Board. Special Investigation Report on the Safety of Parachute Jump Operations (NTSB/SIR-08/01). Washington, DC: NTSB, Adopted 9-16-2008, 64 pages. Accessed 2-22-2016 at: http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SIR0801.pdf