NTSB Factual Report

On August 24, 2018, about 1252 eastern daylight time, a privately owned and operated Beech A36, N773CB, impacted terrain during the initial climb after takeoff from Quincy Municipal Airport (2J9), Quincy, Florida. The private pilot was seriously injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that was destined for the Ocala International Airport – Jim Taylor Field (OCF), Ocala, Florida.

The pilot reported to a Florida Highway Patrol trooper while hospitalized that full throttle was applied during the takeoff roll. The airplane accelerated normally and climbed to 500 feet above the ground when the engine misfired momentarily. He continued the flight, then at 600 feet, the engine experienced a total loss of power. He attempted to look for an off-airport landing site but all he could see were the tops of trees.

According to a witness who was at 2J9 inside the fixed-base operator building, he first observed the airplane when it was halfway down runway 14 on the takeoff roll. The airplane rotated, and began to climb, but when the airplane was above tree top level, he noticed the landing gear were still down and the nose pitched up slightly though it stopped climbing. He then witnessed the airplane pitch up more while rolling to the left. The airplane started to turn east bound in a slight left bank and high pitch up attitude while losing altitude. He then lost sight of the airplane behind the trees.

Another witness reported seeing the airplane taxi, but did not observe an engine run-up before takeoff. He noted the airplane in a shallow angle but nose high attitude, at full power. The airplane appeared to slow, and was in a left bank of about 40 to 45°, still at full power, when it disappeared behind trees and he then heard an impact.

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane came to rest inverted adjacent to trees in the front yard of a residence, about 1/4 mile east-southeast of 2J9. The right wing fuel cell was breached, and according to recovery personnel, an estimated 20 to 25 gallons of fuel remained in the left fuel cell. The fuel selector was positioned to the right fuel tank. The airplane was recovered for further examination.