Mastery Flight Training, Inc.  Beech Weekly Accident Update archives

September 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

NEW REPORTS THIS WEEK

9/2 1517Z (1117 local):  The pilot of a Be24, landing on Runway 24 at Beaufort, South Carolina, “lost directional control” and the Sierra “ran off the left side of (the runway) and into a marsh.”  Three aboard each suffered “minor” injuries, the airplane “minor” damage.  Weather at 73J was 25,000 scattered, visibility seven miles, with surface winds from 360 at five knots.  N2012B (MC-600) is a 1978 C24R recently (March 2005) registered to an individual in New Philadelphia, Ohio.

(“Loss of directional control on landing”—a light wind, but 120 degrees off runway heading; “Recent registration)

9/2 2219Z (1819 local):  A Be35 “landed on (runway) 17” at Wilmington International Airport, Wilmington, North Carolina.  The Bonanza “rolled about 300 feet (before the) nose wheel collapsed,” followed by collapse of the right main gear.  The two aboard were not hurt and damage was “minor.”  Weather: “few clouds” at 6500 feet, visibility 10 miles, with a seven-knot wind.  The FAA reports this as N9801, which must be a partial N-number as it designates a Lockheed 18 on the FAA database.

(“Gear collapse on landing”)

9/3 2256Z (1856 local):  A Be58 “landed (on runway) 33L at Long Island MacArthur Airport, Islip, New York.  The solo pilot wasn’t hurt; damage is “unknown” and weather “not reported.”  N747DW (TH-2002) is a 2001 Baron 58 registered since 2001 to an individual in New York, New York.

(“Landing/Unknown”—presumably something happened on landing that warrants this report)

9/5 0425Z (2325 local 9/4/05):  During a night landing at Lamoni, Iowa, a Be58 hit “one of three deer,” damaging the Baron’s flap.  The pilot and five passengers weren’t hurt; damage is “minor.”  Weather: “clear and 10” with a six-knot wind.  N6285F must be an incorrect N-number as it identifies a Cessna 172N on the FAA registry.

(“Impact with animal on runway during landing”; “Night”)

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

**8/1 A33 crash during an attempted go-around at Shelter Cove, California.  Change “Engine failure on go-around/missed approach” to “Stall during go-around/missed approach,” “Aircraft destroyed” to “Substantial damage,” and “Weather not reported” to “Visual meteorological conditions.**

**8/6 C24R collision with terrain during an attempted takeoff in gusty winds near thunderstorms, at Lumberton, North Carolina.  Change “Loss of control during takeoff” to “Impact with object during takeoff—wind shear.”

**8/8 fatal V35B crash near Ellijay, Georgia.  Change “Crash/Unknown” to “Controlled Flight Into Terrain—Attempted Visual Flight in IMC.”  This mishaps was earlier reported in the Weekly Accident Update only as an unofficial news tip form a reader.  N1212V (D-10226) is a 1979 V35B registered since 2002 to an individual in Sherrills Ford, North Carolina.**

**8/17 double-fatality A36 crash at Jamestown, Tennessee.  Change “Crash/Unknown” to “Loss of Control—Thunderstorm Penetration,” “Weather not reported” to “IMC,” and “Aircraft (presumably) destroyed” to “Substantial damage.”** 

NEW REPORTS THIS WEEK

9/5 1900Z (1300 local):  Cruising at 2500 AGL en route from Twin Falls, Idaho to Tonopah, Nevada, a Be23 was “caught in a severe downdraft” and “crash landed into a fence,” at Jiggs, Nevada.  The two aboard report no injury despite “substantial” aircraft damage.  Weather in the crash area was “clear and 10” with calm winds, and a surface temperature of 25˚C.  N9331S (M-1641) is a 1975 C23 registered since June 2004 to an individual in Riverside, California.

(“Impact with terrain—downdraft/microburst”; “Substantial damage”—although the official weather observation provides few clues, it’s not unusual for strong up- and downdrafts to develop in the hottest part of the day over arid and rugged terrain.  It’s generally recommended to avoid flying light airplanes over desert areas in the afternoon when surface temperatures exceed standard for that altitude)

9/8 1750Z (1350 local):  A Be58 impacted the Atlantic Ocean in the vicinity of Exuma Cay, Bahamas.  The ATP-rated pilot was killed and the airplane incurred “substantial” damage on impact.  The IFR flight was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions.  According to a witness the airplane, which had been airborne for about an hour and 20 minutes, was seen “flying at a low altitude…with one engine on fire.”  The airplane “came to rest about 300 yards from the Norman’s Cay airport in about 20 feet of water.”  N3162W (TH-419) is/was a 1973 Baron 58 registered since 2003 to an individual in Lula, Georgia.

(“Engine fire in flight”; “Fatal”; “Substantial damage”)

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

**9/8 fatal Baron 58 engine fire in flight at Exuma Cay, cited above.**

FROM UNOFFICIAL REPORTS:

A reader reports:  9/17 (time not reported):  During an organized training event at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, an unoccupied Be35 was struck by another Be35.  The airplane struck has damage to a ruddervator trim tab, while damage to the occupied and taxiing airplane is unknown.  Weather conditions were not reported.  N8330D (D-5483) is a 1958 J35 registered since 2000 to a corporation in Chanhassen, Minnesota.

(“Struck by taxiing aircraft”)

In the same 9/17 incident, an unidentified Be35, taxiing for a dual instructional flight, struck a parked Be35 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Damage, injuries and weather are “unknown.” 

(“Taxied into object/pedestrian/other aircraft”; “Dual instruction”—keep all eyes looking outside when taxiing.  In modern flight instruction it’s very tempting to be looking down programming a GPS or discussing engine management during taxi, but these activities should be complete before beginning to move forward.  This may or may not have been a factor in this case.)

NEW REPORTS THIS WEEK

9/16 1745Z (1245 local):  A Be33 “lost power at 3000 feet” en route from Norfolk, Nebraska to Sioux City, Iowa.  The pilot “made a forced landing in a field” near Emerson, Nebraska; the airplane “rolled through a fence.”  The solo pilot was not hurt despite “substantial” aircraft damage.  Weather: “clear and 10” with a 12-knot surface wind.  N8225F (CE-1597) is a 1991 F33A registered since 1998 to an individual in Norfolk, Nebraska.

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

9/16 1803Z (1403 local):  A Be76, taxiing to the ramp after landing, “ran into a small ditch” at Fort Pierce, Florida, incurring “unknown” damage but causing no injury to the solo pilot.  Weather was “not reported.”  N6626Z (ME-208) is a 1979 Duchess registered since 1989 to a flight training corporation based in Fort Pierce,

(“Taxied into object/pedestrian/other aircraft”)

9/19 2115Z (1515 local):  The pilot of a Be35 “extended (the landing) gear” but was “too low” and made ground contact while powering up for a go-around at Belen, New Mexico.  The lone pilot was not hurt and damage is “minor.”  Weather: not reported.  N9447S (D-8763) is a 1968 V35A registered since 2003 to an individual in Edgewood, New Mexico.

(“Gear up landing”)

9/19 2144Z (1444 local):  The right main and nose gear of a Be55 collapsed on landing at Pasco, Washington.  The solo pilot wasn’t hurt; damage is “minor.”  Weather was “clear and 10” with a seven-knot wind.  N353LA (TC-1339) is a 1970 B55 recently (September 2005) registered to an individual in Pasco.

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

9/19 2245Z (1545 local):  Three aboard a Be33 weren’t hurt, although the Bonanza suffered “substantial” damage, when the aircraft “went off the end of the runway and came to rest in the bushes” at Bisbee, Arizona.  “Visual meteorological conditions” prevailed.  The NTSB reports: “According to the pilot, the run-up was uneventful. During the run-up, he leaned the mixture to allow maximum engine performance. Although he was not accustomed to mixture leaning procedures because the majority of his flying was out of lower elevation airports in Florida, he felt that it was set properly. After setting the airplane up for departure, the pilot taxied onto runway 17 and applied full power while holding the brakes. He released the brakes and waited for the airplane to attain 60 knots. When the airplane reached 60 knots, he slowly applied back pressure on the elevator. The airplane climbed about 10 feet above ground level and then settled to the ground off the end of the runway. As it settled to the ground, the airplane sustained damage to the leading edges of the wings and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot also noted that prior to departure the wind was calm; during the takeoff roll, the wind appeared to be coming from the north. The pilot had flown to Bisbee from Chandler earlier that morning and did not note any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during that flight.  Airport information for Bisbee Municipal Airport…indicates that runway 17/35 is 5,929 feet in length and 60 feet wide. The estimated airport elevation is 4,780 feet mean sea level.    N5757D (CD-1092) is a 1967 C33 registered since 2002 to a corporation in Chandler.

(“Runway overrun”; “Substantial damage”—density altitude and a change in the wind appear to have been factors)

9/22 0030Z (1930 local 9/21/05):  A Be36 landed gear up after being “cleared for the option” during a local flight at Chesterfield, Missouri.  The solo pilot reports no injury.  Aircraft damage is “minor.”  Weather: “clear and 10” with a three-knot wind.  N7645N (E-65) is a 1968 Model 36 recently (May 2005) registered to an individual in Overland, Missouri.

(“Gear up landing”; “Recent registration”—sounds like the “multiple takeoffs and landings” and/or touch-and-go correlation we’ve seen so often in the Weekly Accident Update)

9/22 1924Z (1424 local):  The pilot of a Be58 was cleared to taxi but “sustained minor damage” before arriving at the takeoff runway, at Texarkana, Arkansas.  Damage was “minor” and the lone pilot was not hurt.  Weather was “clear and 10” with a five-knot wind.  N584AC (TH-79) is a 1970 Model 58 registered since April 2004 to a corporation in Moore, Oklahoma.

(“Taxied into object/pedestrian/other aircraft”)

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

**8/5 double fatality V35B controlled flight into terrain at Denali Peak, Alaska.**

**8/6 fatal D35 engine failure on takeoff at Decatur, Alabama.**

**8/20 Model 36 gear up landing at Holland, Michigan.**

**8/21 A36 collision with terrain during an unsuccessful takeoff at Heraldsburg, California.  Change “Impact with obstacle—wing tip contact during takeoff” to “Impact with obstacle following takeoff/unable to attain climb.”**

**9/19 C33 runway overrun at Chandler, Arizona, cited above.**

FROM UNOFFICIAL SOURCES

Several readers report: 9/24 (time not reported):  A Be36, en route from Murwillumbah to Coonabarabran, New South Wales, Australia did not arrive at destination.  Wreckage was found on 9/29 southeast of Tenterfield, in the northern reaches of NSW.  “Unfortunately it appears the impact was not survivable,” reports one reader, “although they have not yet had medical teams on site to confirm.”  Adverse weather appears not to have been a factor and speculation seems to be turning toward pilot incapacitation as a possible contributor.  VH-BKM (E-560) was a 1974 A36 recently (June 2005) registered to an individual in Coonabarabran.

(“Crash/Unknown”; “Fatal”; “Aircraft destroyed”; "Recent registration")

NEW REPORTS THIS WEEK

9/23 2150Z (1750 local):  A Be36 “landed long and struck a fence” at the conclusion of a flight from Atlantic City, New Jersey to Farmingdale, New York.  The pilot and two passengers report no injury although the Bonanza has “substantial” damage.  Weather at Farmingdale: “clear and 10” with a four-knot, variable surface wind.  N8014T (E-2561) is a 1990 A36 registered since 1996 to a Wilmington, Delaware corporation.

(“Landed long”; “Substantial damage”)

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

**There are no newly posted piston Beech NTSB reports this week.** 

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