Mastery Flight Training, Inc.  Beech Weekly Accident Update archives

March 2005 Reports

Official information from FAA and NTSB sources (unless otherwise noted).  Editorial comments (contained in parentheses), year-to-date summary and closing comments are those of the author.  All information is preliminary and subject to change.  Comments on preliminary topics are meant solely to enhance flying safety.  Please use these reports to help you more accurately evaluate the potential risks when you make your own decisions about how and when to fly.  Please accept my sincere personal condolences if anyone you know was in a mishap. I welcome your comments, suggestions and criticisms.  Fly safe, and have fun!

Copyright 2005 Mastery Flight Training, Inc.  All Rights Reserved

FAA REPORT CORRECTIONS

The following items illustrate why FAA preliminary reports, despite usually being indicative of actual events and always thought-provoking, must be viewed critically when making any declarative statements:

Regarding: 1/12 2259Z (1659 local):  A Be35, landing at a private airstrip in IFR conditions of 100 broken, 1400 overcast and 10 miles visibility, “slid into a tree and burst into flames” at Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  The solo pilot died and the airplane was “destroyed.”  N10EL was a 1959 K35 registered to an individual in Eureka Springs (no date of registry is listed).  Despite the originally posted preliminary FAA report, the NTSB preliminary identifies this as a Piper Aztec.   Remove “Loss of directional control on landing”; “Fatal”; “Aircraft destroyed”; and “IMC” from the record.   Thanks to the alert reader who caught this before my audit of posted items.

Regarding: 2/13 1653Z (1053 local):  During a forced landing a Be35 “landed on a road, clipped a stop sign and the wing broke off,” near Angleton, Texas.  The solo pilot, en route IFR from Houston, Texas to Angelton, escaped injury despite “substantial” damage.  Weather in the area was “few clouds” at 1000 feet, 2800 overcast with six miles visibility and a nine-knot surface wind.  N6717S appears on the FAA database as a Beech 77 Skipper.  The NTSB preliminary in fact upholds that this was a 1979 Skipper, N6717S, registered since 2000 to an individual in Houston, Texas.  Change “Engine failure in flight” to “Fuel exhaustion;” and move all references from Be35 to Be77.”

FROM UNOFFICIAL SOURCES

A reader writes:  “On 2/3/2005, I (Private single/Private Multi) took off with my instructor (MEII), and we departed Fort Pierce County International Airport (Florida). It was about six o'clock  (with over) 10 miles visibility. Wind was 080@06. (After) getting to the practice area (and) trimming out the aircraft (Be76) for a significant time, the right engine began to sputter. (Takeoff) was with full tanks of 100LL and (we) had no problems otherwise. The engine failed and I went through the emergency procedure. The unfeathering accumulator did not restart the engine nor (would) the starter even engage. The prop was now feathered and we could not do anything about it. We went back to the airport and told (ATC) we needed a straight in (landing). I landed the aircraft without incident.  We were then unable to taxi due to the loss of our right engine. We got a tow and everything was fine. Two aboard No injuries, no damage.”

(“Engine failure in flight”)

NEW ITEMS THIS WEEK

2/23 2000Z (1500 local):  A Be95’s nose gear collapsed on landing at Sturgis, Michigan.  The solo pilot was not hurt and damage was “minor.”  Weather: 3800 scattered, 4400 overcast, visibility 10 with calm winds.  N2058C is a 1959 Travel Air registered since 1992 to a corporation in Lake Rononkoma, New York.

(“Gear collapse on landing”)

2/24 2042Z (1242 local): A Be36 was en route form Carlsbad, California to La Paz, Mexico when it “crashed on a bluff on the side of a mountain 30 (miles) east of Guerro Negro, Mexico.”  The “aircraft (had) declared an emergency” prior to impact.  There were no reported injuries to the four persons on board and damage is as yet “unknown.”  Weather was “not reported.”  N4059A is/was a 1970 A36 registered since 1991 to an individual in Encinitas, California.

(“Engine failure in flight [from an “ear-witness” who heard the radio distress call]”)

NEW NTSB PRELIMINARY REPORTS:  All previously reported in the Weekly Accident Update, and subject to update per NTSB findings. 

**2/10 A36 gear collapse on landing during a maintenance flight at Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.  Change “Gear collapse—partial extension with no manual extension” to “Landing gear: known mechanical malfunction” and add “substantial damage.”**

**2/13 Beech Skipper fuel exhaustion mishap, cited above.**

**2/14 double-fatality K35 crash at Leesburg, Florida.  Change “Crash/Unknown” to “Stall/Spin on final/turning final approach.”**

**2/15 Travel Air collision with terrain near Calistoga, California.  Change “Crash unknown” to “Controlled flight into terrain—cruise flight/mountainous terrain” and “Substantial damage” to “Aircraft destroyed.”**

NEW ITEMS THIS WEEK

3/8 1737Z (1137 local):  A Be77’s pilot “declared an emergency” and “reported engine failure,” near Austin, Texas.  The Skipper touched down on a golf course with no injuries to the two on board despite “substantial” aircraft damage.  Weather: “few clouds” at 16,000, visibility 10 with a six-knot surface wind.  N3870W is a 1981 Model 77 registered since 2002 to a Dover, Delaware corporation.

(“Engine failure in flight”; “Substantial damage”)

3/8 2243Z (1643 local):  A Be55 “struck a bird with the leading edge of (the) wing” on landing at Gilmer, Texas.  The pilot was not hurt and damage is “minor.”  Weather: “few clouds” at 4500 feet, visibility 10 with calm winds.  N4869J is a 1966 C55 recently (February 2005) registered to an aircraft sales firm in Holly Lake Ranch, Texas.

(“Bird strike”; "Recent registration")

NEW NTSB PRELIMINARY REPORTS:  All previously reported in the Weekly Accident Update, and subject to update per NTSB findings. 

**2/15 double-fatality C33 impact at Clearwater, Florida, during a flight by the airplane’s owner and a mechanic to test “trouble in the fuel system.”  Change “Substantial damage” to “Aircraft destroyed.”**

NEW ITEMS THIS WEEK

3/8 1700Z (0900 local):  A Be19 on a solo “training” flight experienced a nose gear collapse on landing at Prosser, Washington.  The solo pilot was not hurt and damage is “minor.”  Weather : “clear and 10” with a three-knot wind.  N1937W is a 1973 B19 registered since 2002 to an individual in Bayview, Idaho.

(“Gear collapse—fixed gear airplane”)

3/8 1930Z (1130 local):  Cleared for a “touch and go” during a dual training flight at Riverside, California, the nose gear of a Be24 collapsed and the Sierra slide from the runway.  Student and instructor were not hurt; damage is “minor.”  Weather was clear, visibility four miles in haze, with a variable, four-knot wind.  N20135 is a 1978 C24R registered since 1978 to a flying service in Riverside, California.

(“Gear collapse on touch-and-go”; “Dual instruction”)

3/15 2033Z (1333 local):  A Be36’s pilot “lost control” on takeoff during a solo training flight at Farmington, New Mexico.  The airplane then “made a hard landing,” causing “substantial” damage while leaving the pilot unharmed.  Weather at Farmington was “few clouds” at 8500, visibility 10, with winds at 13 gusting to 17 knots.  N435P is a 1992 A36 registered since 1992 to an airline ab initio training program in Farmington, New Mexico.

(“Loss of control on takeoff”; “Substantial damage”)

3/15 2115Z (1315 local):  A Be55’s landing gear collapsed on touchdown at Evergreen Field, Vancouver, Washington.  The solo pilot was not injured despite “substantial” damage.   Weather: “clear and 10” with a five-knot breeze.  N3018S is a 1965 B55 registered since 1998 to an individual in Sun River, Oregon.

(“Gear collapse on landing”; “Substantial damage”)

NEW NTSB PRELIMINARY REPORTS:  All previously reported in the Weekly Accident Update, and subject to update per NTSB findings. 

**3/8 Be77 engine failure and landing on a golf course at Austin, Texas**

UPDATE

RE this item from last week: “3/15 2033Z (1333 local):  A Be36’s pilot ‘lost control’ on takeoff during a solo training flight at Farmington, New Mexico.  The airplane then ‘made a hard landing,’ causing ‘substantial’ damage while leaving the pilot unharmed.”  A report from the aircraft’s operator states “it was a dual flight (stage check for Private Student) doing a soft field takeoff. (The) nose got too high after liftoff and it stalled without any warning and dropped a wing. (The) instructor recovered from a very steep bank but was unable to prevent the right wing from contacting the runway. Winds were a bit squirrelly with some direction shifts and gusts from calm to 15 or 20, so I expect there was a sheer that caused the sudden loss of lift. Damage to right aileron and right wingtip can be repaired locally…one (wing) rib will need repair. (There was) no spar damage.”  Add “Dual instruction” and amend “Loss of control on takeoff” to include “wind shear.”

FROM UNOFFICIAL SOURCES

3/20 (time not reported):  A reader reports:  A Be36 “caught a gust of wind on rollout” and “ran off the runway into the mud,” at Sedona, Arizona.  “Damage is (the) left gear collapsed (and the) plane hit a runway sign, (which) put a large gash in the left side cowl near the firewall. (The) prop is also dinged. (The) left wing root is also in bad shape.”  The reader (not the pilot of the accident airplane) further states it is his “bet that the airplane is totaled due to (damage to the) firewall,” and notes that strong, gusty surface winds are “common at Sedona.”  Thanks, reader, for your on-the-scene report.

(“Loss of directional control on landing”)  

NEW FAA REPORTS THIS WEEK

3/17 1840Z (1040 local):  Two aboard a Be76 avoided injury when their Be76’s nose gear collapsed on landing, at Modesto, California.  The Duchess has “minor” damage.  Weather at Modesto: “clear and 10” with calm winds.  N3724H is a 1982 Model 76 registered since 1999 to a corporation based in Canoga Park, California.

(“Gear collapse on landing”)

3/18 1242Z (0742 local):  An air freight Be18 suffered a left main landing gear collapse on landing at Panama City, Florida.  The pilot was not injured; damage is “unknown.”  Weather: clear skies, unrestricted visibility, surface winds at nine knots.  The aircraft was operating under a corporate callsign, so registered owner information is not available.

(“Gear collapse on landing”)

NEW NTSB PRELIMINARY REPORTS:  All previously reported in the Weekly Accident Update, and subject to update per NTSB findings. 

**There are no newly posted Beechcraft NTSB preliminary reports this week**

ADDITIONAL NOTE

The NTSB factual report on the 11/19/2003 Texas Air Aces T-34 inflight breakup is now posted.  This was the second T-34 wing separation, involving an airplane being operated out of then-current AD compliance.    Findings indicate that wing failures were “typical of overstress fracture.”  It also notes “17 fatigue crack regions in the lower spar cap structure prior to the final fracture”

NEW REPORTS THIS WEEK

3/23 2237Z (1637 local):  Arriving from Tucumcari, New Mexico, four aboard a Be55 avoided injury when the Baron landed at Tulsa, Oklahoma and its landing gear collapsed.  Aircraft damage was “substantial.”  Weather at Tulsa: clear, visibility nine miles with a six-knot wind.  N597T is a 1967 C55 (TE-353) recently (November 2004) registered to a corporation in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

(“Gear collapse on landing”; “Substantial damage”; “Recent registration”)

3/25 1912Z (1212 local):  A Be58’s right main and nose gear collapsed on landing at Denver, Colorado.  The solo pilot wasn’t hurt; damage and weather are “unknown.”  N211PF is a 1980 58P (TJ-305) registered since January 2004 to a corporation in Grand Junction, Colorado.

(“Gear collapse on landing”)

3/29 0133Z (2133 local 3/28/05):  An air freight Be58, taxiing after landing at Bradley, Connecticut, taxied into the grass and its nose gear collapsed.  The solo pilot was not injured; damage and weather conditions are “unknown.”  N6650D is a 1983 58 (TH-1375) registered since 1997 to an air freight operator based in Columbus, Ohio.

(“Taxi into object”) 

NEW NTSB PRELIMINARY REPORTS:  All previously reported in the Weekly Accident Update, and subject to update per NTSB findings. 

**There were no newly posted NTSB preliminary reports this week.**

NEW NTSB FACTUAL and “PROBABLE CAUSE” REPORTS (for 2005).  Updates on previous reports from the National Transportation Safety Board.

***1/1 G35 taxi into trees at Falmouth, MA.  Investigators were unable to duplicate the stuck throttle condition.***

Return to  archives page.