March 19, Akron, Ohio / Beech Sundowner

At about 07:48 EST, a Beech A23 crashed after takeoff from Akron Fulton International Airport, killing the pilot. A witness near the 6,337-foot runway said he saw the airplane about 10 to 15 feet above the ground and barely climbing. The mechanic who performed the airplanes last annual inspection in April 1999 said the accident pilot called him the day before the accident and said the airplane wasnt developing power. He asked the pilot what the mag drop was and the pilot replied 50 on one and 80 on the other. The mechanic then told the pilot to leave it on the ground, and he would look at the airplane on Monday.