WPR12FA326

The airplane’s failure to rotate and the pilot’s failure to reject the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun for reasons that could not be undetermined because postaccident examination of the airplane and engines did not reveal any malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Several witnesses observed the airplane before and during its takeoff roll on the morning of the accident. One witness observed the airplane for the entire event and stated that the run-up of the engines sounded normal. During the takeoff roll, the acceleration of the airplane appeared a little slower but the engines continued to sound normal. Directional control was maintained, and at midfield, the airplane had still not rotated. As the airplane continued down the 5,132-foot-long runway, it did not appear to be accelerating, and, about 100 yards from the end of the runway, it appeared that it was not going to stop. The airplane maintained contact with the runway and turned slightly right before it overran the end of the runway. The airplane was subsequently destroyed by impact forces and a postaccident fire. The wreckage was located at the bottom of a deep gully off the end of the runway. Postaccident examination of the area at the end of the runway revealed two distinct tire tracks, both of which crossed the asphalt and dirt overrun of 175 feet. A review of the airplane's weight and balance and performance data revealed that it was within its maximum gross takeoff weight and center of gravity limits. At the time of the accident, the density altitude was calculated to be 7,100 feet; the airport's elevation is 4,830 feet. For the weight of the airplane and density altitude at the time of the accident, it should have lifted off 2,805 feet down the runway; the distance to accelerate to takeoff speed and then to safely abort the takeoff and stop the airplane was calculated to be 4,900 feet. It is unknown whether the pilot completed performance calculations accounting for the density altitude. All flight control components were accounted for at the accident site. Although three witnesses indicated that the engines did not sound right at some point during the runup or takeoff, examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of any preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Propeller signatures were consistent with rotational forces being applied at the time of impact. No conclusive evidence was found to explain why the airplane did not rotate or why the pilot did not abort the takeoff once reaching the point to safely stop the airplane.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 26, 2012, about 0830 mountain standard time, a Beech B60, N880LY, serial number P-524, was destroyed during a runway overrun following takeoff roll at the Sedona Airport (SEZ), Sedona, Arizona. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned personal cross-country flight, and no flight plan was filed. The destination was reported to be the Double Eagle II Airport (AEG), Albuquerque, New Mexico. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. During the investigation four individuals provided the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) with written statements relative to their observations of the accident sequence: Witness #1, a retired Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations supervisor, stated that he was located about 200 feet north of the parallel taxiway and about 1,000 feet southwest of the approach end of Runway 21; he had an unobstructed view of the entire runway. The witness reported that he initially observed the airplane doing a run-up in the run-up area adjacent to Runway 21, that the engines sounded normal, and that the time it took the pilot to complete the run-up was normal. The airplane then took Runway 21 for departure, and the acceleration during the takeoff roll appeared a little slower than normal. The witness added that the engines sounded normal, that directional control was normal, and at mid-field the airplane was still moving on the ground and had not rotated. The witnesses opined, "At that time I began to be concerned." The witness stated that as the airplane continued down the runway it appeared that it wasn't accelerating. The witness further stated that about 100 yards from the departure end of Runway 21 it appeared that the airplane wasn't going to stop. During this time the airplane maintained runway contact and directional control. The witness added that as he observed the airplane go off the end of Runway 21, it appeared to turn slightly to the right, and at the same time he heard a mild bang and the airplane went out of sight. About 30 seconds after losing sight of the airplane, a very large black mushroom cloud, about 200 to 300 feet high, appeared. Witness #2, who resided at the north end of the departure runway, stated that on the morning of the accident he was sitting outside when he heard an airplane start its takeoff roll, seemingly losing power for a moment and then regaining it; it was not a "run-up". The witness reported that the airplane was definitely taking off, that the drone of the engine was lowered for an instant, and then regained what he thought was a "normal" sound for an engine at full operating power. Witness #3 reported that while driving along the airport ramp on the north side of the airport, he observed the accident airplane stationary and on the numbers of Runway 21, apparently preparing to take off. The witness further reported that it appeared to him that the left engine was turning at a slower revolutions per minute (rpm) than the right engine, "…as I could see the prop blades on the left engine." The witness stated that the airplane seemed to be holding in the takeoff position for what he considered to be a longer than normal amount of time. The witness opined that he estimated that from the time he first observed the airplane holding on the runway to the start of the takeoff [roll], at least 1 minute had elapsed. He added that it was his impression at the time that there was some type of an abnormal situation with the airplane due to the slow rpm of the left engine and its extended hold time on the runway. The witness revealed that he then heard the airplane power up to what sounded like full power and start its takeoff roll; the witness stated that he was about 200 to 250 feet from the numbers of Runway 21 at this time. The witness stated that in his opinion both engines sounded normal, with a slight out-of-sync beat, and no different from other twin-engine airplanes of this type at full takeoff power. As the accident airplane passed by his position it accelerated on its takeoff roll, and out of the witness's sight, in what appeared to be a normal takeoff. He subsequently looked around the hangars, and saw the large black plume of smoke. Witness #4, the Airport Operations Manager, reported that while driving to the north end of the airport to perform maintenance, he entered the taxiway at A-3 behind the accident airplane, which was taxiing to the run up area for Runway 21. On returning via the taxiway, he passed the accident airplane that was on its takeoff roll between A-2 and A-3, and exchanged a hand wave, with whom he believed was the pilot, but could not be entirely certain that it was actually the pilot with whom he exchanged the wave. The witness stated that he subsequently observed the smoke plume coming from the southwest end of the airport, and immediately responded to the accident site, where he observed that the airplane had been consumed by the post-impact fire. During the investigation local law enforcement personnel provided the NTSB IIC with two additional statement of individuals who had witnessed the accident. Their statements revealed the following: Witness #5 reported that while towing a helicopter in close proximity to taxiway A-4 he observed the twin-engine airplane taxi into position for departure on Runway 21. As he reached taxiway A-3, he observed the airplane pass his position at a fairly fast rate of speed; the engines were at takeoff throttle and running normal. The witness continued to watch the airplane as it proceeded past taxiways A-5 and A-6, at which time he began to wonder why the pilot had not started to rotate. The witness stated that it appeared to him that the airplane was going at a high rate of speed as it passed [taxiway] A-8. At this time, the witness was at taxiway A-4 and could not detect any engine sound or deceleration [of the airplane]. He continued to watch the airplane as it went off the end of the runway and disappear from sight. Witness #6 reported that on the morning of the accident she was hiking on the airport loop trail east when she heard the airplane start its takeoff. Shortly thereafter she observed the airplane approaching the end of the runway, and it appeared that it was going to hit the [airport's perimeter] fence. The witness stated that she could hear the engines cutting out before it hit the fence, and that they were cutting out more when the airplane crashed into some big trees. The airplane wreckage was consumed by the postcrash fire, and was located at the bottom of a steep drop-off at the end of Runway 21. The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 53, held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine and multiengine land, and instrument airplane. The pilot's most recent third-class FAA airman medical certificate was issued on January 5, 2011, without limitations. A review of the pilot's computerized logbook records, which were supplied to the NTSB IIC by a family member, revealed that as of July 14, 2012, the pilot had accumulated a total flying time of 663 hours, of which 545 hours were in single-engine airplanes, and 118 hours were in multiengine airplanes. The logbook review further revealed that the pilot had accumulated a total of 62 hours in the accident airplane make and model. It was also noted that the pilot had completed 6 flights into SEZ between March 29, 2011 and May 28, 2012, each in the accident airplane. In the previous 90 days, 30 days, and 24 hours prior to the accident, the pilot had flown a total of 23.2 hours, 5.1 hours, and 0 hours respectively, both in single-engine and multiengine airplanes. Addi