Pilot might have tried to return to Nemacolin Airport before crashing
Witnesses told federal investigators the small airplane that crashed after departing the airfield at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort two weeks ago might have been trying to return to the runway when the plane went down, killing all three people on board.
The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report into the Dec. 11 accident that claimed the lives of pilot Terry Carlson, 68, his son Erick Carlson, 27, and Jason Willems, 26, of the Washington, D.C., metro area. Terry Carlson and Willems died at the scene and Erick Carlson died the following day at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh.
The report, which was released Tuesday, cites witnesses who told investigators that the single-engine Beech A36 “made a sudden turn like it was trying to turn around” after taking off from Nemacolin Airport around 2:20 p.m.
“The landing gear then extended into the down position. The airplane was next observed turning onto a close in, left base leg for runway 23 “pretty low” to the ground, about 800 yards from the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort Outdoor Animal Exhibits Area, and then was lost from sight as it passed behind the resort’s Panoramic Pavilion. Moments later the sound of the airplane impacting trees and then the ground was heard, and a “fireball” and smoke was observed to rise into the air,” the report says.
The airplane came to rest in a heavily wooded area located next to the 11th fairway of the resort’s Links Golf Course and then caught on fire, according to the report.
Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane had broken apart after striking trees with its left wing and nose down. During impact, the main cabin traveled approximately 152 feet before impacting the ground and coming to rest in the opposite direction of travel with the rear of the plane lying behind it in an inverted position, according to the report.
The engine, left outboard wing, right wing flap, right main landing gear and engine cowlings were found strewn throughout the accident site. Evidence of propeller strikes on broken-off tree branches and tree trunks that littered the ground, along with areas of burned underbrush and fire damaged trees was found, according to the report.
No evidence of any pre-impact failure of the airplane structure was discovered, and the fuel system appeared to be functional.
Examination of the flight control system revealed no evidence of any pre-impact failure or malfunction, and flight controls appeared to work properly.
The propeller and engine showed no evidence of any pre-impact failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation, according to the report. The propeller remained attached to the propeller flange, but all three blades exhibited S-bending, twisting and scratching.
Oil was present in the engine’s rocker boxes and oil sump, and the oil filter contained no debris. Crankshaft and valve train continuity was confirmed, and compression and suction was observed in all six cylinders. Examination of the interior of the cylinders found no evidence of any pre-impact damage to the piston domes, cylinder walls or valves. Both magnetos were functional and produced spark.
Examination of the utility doors locking mechanism did not show any evidence of malfunction or failure.
Examination of the forward cabin door revealed that the door-handle mechanism was not fully in the locked position, according to the report.
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and pilot records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for single-engine planes and a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for helicopters. He applied to the FAA for a third-class medical certificate in February 2014. The pilot reported that he had accrued approximately 3,261 total hours of flight experience, of which 2,663 hours were in a Beech A36.
FAA maintenance records show the plane was built in 1984 and its last annual inspection was done on Nov. 11 this year. At the time of the inspection, the airplane had accrued approximately 4,448.5 total hours of operation, and the engine had accrued approximately 1,158.8 total hours of operation since a major overhaul.