Attempts By ATC To Contact The Pilot After The Airplane Climbed Through 18,000 Ft Were Not Successful

Location: Lena, WI Accident Number: CEN22FA021
Date & Time: October 27, 2021, 18:17 Local Registration: N75RM
Aircraft: Beech B36TC Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On October 27, 2021, at 1817 central daylight time, a Beech B36TC airplane, N75RM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lena, Wisconsin. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

Airplane position data indicated that the flight departed Fort Worth Meacham Airport (FTW), Fort Worth, Texas, at 1357 and proceeded on a northeasterly course. The airplane initially leveled about 15,500 ft mean sea level (msl). However, as the airplane approached a line of storms, the pilot began to deviate. Ultimately, the airplane leveled about 24,000 ft msl and returned to a northeasterly course. Attempts by air traffic control to contact the pilot after the airplane climbed through 18,000 ft were not successful. About 1756, the airplane entered a descent from 24,000 ft msl. It was about 25 miles west of Green Bay, Wisconsin, at the time. About 2 minutes later, the airplane course became slightly erratic as the descent continued. At 1803, when the airplane altitude was about 16,100 ft msl, the course changed abruptly from northeasterly to westerly. The airplane immediately entered a right turn and returned to the northeasterly course. At that time, the airplane entered a steady descent of about 1,000 fpm, which continued until the data ended. The final data point was recorded at 1817:11. The accident site was about 540 ft northeast of the final data point and aligned with the flight path.

The airplane impacted a corn field and slid about 150 ft before coming to rest. The landing gear and wing flaps were retracted. The lower fuselage structure was damaged from the airplane nose to the midcabin area consistent with impact. Flight control continuity was confirmed from each control surface to the cockpit. An initial engine examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with an inability to produce rated power. Both fuel tanks appeared to be intact. About 35 gallons of fuel remained in the left tank; no fuel remained in the right fuel tank. The cockpit fuel selector was set to the right tank at the time of the on-scene examination. Further examination of the onboard oxygen system is pending.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov