Beechcraft 60 Duke crash, Mar 3, 2002 (1 killed), Mexia
Beechcraft 60 Duke accident on March 3, 2002 near Mexia, Texas, United States with 1 fatality. Cause: The pilot did not remove the control lock and did...
- Date: March 3, 2002
- Aircraft: Beechcraft 60 Duke
- Location: Mexia, Texas, United States
- Fatalities: 1
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: The pilot did not remove the control lock and did not follow the pre-flight and before-start checklists, leading to loss of control on takeoff.
A Beechcraft Duke taxied to the north end of Runway 18 at Mexia and took off with a bolt still inserted in the control lock pinhole, which locked the control column. The aircraft struck trees and a fence about 1,000 feet beyond the runway end and burned, killing the pilot. The checklist items for control locks and flight control freedom were not followed.