FYI:  Texas Crash

On January 20, 2005, approximately 1810 central standard time, a Beech J-35 single-engine airplane, N399RH, was destroyed when it impacted terrain during an forced landing following a loss of engine power while maneuvering near the Abernathy Municipal Airport (F83), near Abernathy, Texas. The private pilot and his passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the personal flight, which was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The local flight originated from the Biggin Hill Airport (TA67), near Shallowater, Texas, approximately 1750.

According to a witness who was flying in the area at the time of the accident, the airplane was flying on a left downwind leg, with the landing gear and flaps down, for runway 17 at F83, at an approximate altitude of 1,000 feet above the ground (agl). When the airplane was abeam the north end of the runway, it began to descend below 500 feet agl. The airplane then made a descending right turn toward a southerly heading. Subsequently, the witness observed the right wing impacting the ground and a postimpact fire.

The wreckage came to rest in an upright position in a flat cotton field, approximately 1.67 miles from F83. The global positioning system location was latitude 33.519 degrees North, longitude 101.442 degrees West, and field elevation of 3,331 feet mean sea level (msl). The resting heading of the airplane was 160 degree magnetic, and the wreckage distribution path was aligned on 140 degree magnetic heading, with the landing gear extended and the flaps retracted.

All major components of the aircraft were accounted for at the accident site, and control continuity was established for all control surfaces.

At 1753, the automated weather observing system at Lubbock International Airport (LBB), located approximately 11 nautical miles south of the accident site, reported wind from 270 at 8 knots, broken clouds at 25,000 feet, temperature 17 degrees Celsius, dew point 1 degree Celsius, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.18 inches of Mercury.

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