NTSB Factual Report

On June 13, 2018, about 0908 eastern daylight time, a Beech 58, N218BL, impacted a field near Springfield Township, New Jersey. The private pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces. The airplane was privately owned and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. Day instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the positioning flight, which originated from South Jersey Regional Airport (VAY), Mount Holly, New Jersey, about 0904, and was destined for Barnstable Municipal Airport-Boardman/Polando Field (HYA), Hyannis, MA.

According to preliminary air traffic control (ATC) voice and radar information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration, about 0858, the pilot contacted McGuire Field (Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst) Airport (WRI) Clearance Delivery and was issued an IFR clearance to HYA. At about 0901, ATC released the flight for departure, and about 0904, the pilot reported airborne on WRI Departure Control frequency (radar data indicated 200 ft mean sea level [msl] climbing northeast bound). At about 0905, the airplane was radar identified (radar data indicated 600 ft msl climbing northeast bound). At about 0906, ATC attempted to contact the pilot but there was no response. The radar data indicated the airplane proceeded on a northeasterly direction and climbed to 1,300 ft msl, then began a right descending turn. Between 0906:04 and 0906:28 radar data indicated a loss of altitude from 1,300 ft msl to 500 ft msl. During this time ATC issued a low altitude alert, with no response. There were two more radar returns, one at 0906:33 indicating 1,000 ft msl and the last one at 0906:38 indicating 1,600 ft msl. At about 0907, ATC announced radar contact was lost.

A witness who was located outside about 800 ft south of the accident site reported hearing the airplane coming toward him from the east. He could not see the airplane but recalled the sound to be very loud. The airplane sound circled behind him, again, he could only hear it. He stated the sound got less for about 12-15 seconds and returned from the northwest. He stated that his first visual sighting of the airplane was to the north, He recalled the airplane flying away from him with the left wing a few degrees lower than the right wing. Using his fingers to measure, he stated the airplane was about 2 inches above the tops of the trees while the engines were making a very loud constant sound. He heard the airplane crash describing it as a "thud" and went to his vehicle then drove to the accident site to render assistance. He indicated in writing that as the airplane flew overhead, he did not see any smoke.

Examination of the accident site revealed the airplane impacted in a field west of Springfield Jacksonville Road; the energy path was oriented on a magnetic heading of 055°. Wreckage was located in the field west of the road, in treelines on both sides of the road, on the road, and also east of the road. The airplane which was heavily fragmented was recovered for further examination of the airframe, engines, and propellers.