# Accident 19980514009239A: Beech T34B, Montgomery, AL, May 14, 1998 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: May 14, 1998, 16:57 local time - Place: Montgomery, AL - Airport: Maxwell Afb - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 32.3801° N, 86.3493° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3801&lon=-86.3493&mi=10 - Aircraft: N9280Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9280Z-2001-06-11) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Beech T-34B (registry code 1152014, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-t-34b) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH T34B - Reported engine: CONT O4704 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 4,540 total, 200 in this make and model - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL98FA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98FA076) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980514009239A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON MAY 14, 1998, AT 1657 CDT, A BEECHCRAFT BE-45-T34B,OPERATED UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND, A TREE, AND A CHEVROLET VAN IN THE BX AND BURGER KING PARKING LOTS ON MAXWELL AFB WHILE ATTEMPTING AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE FLIGHT (CALL SIGN CAVEAT7) ORIGINATED AT THE CENTER OF RUNWAY 15 AT MAXWELL AFB. THE PILOT REPORTED OIL ON HIS WINDSHIELD SHORTLY AFTER LIFT OFF, ON CLIMB OUT, REQUESTING A LEFT TURN FOR DOWN WIND TO RUNWAY 15 FOR A RETURN LANDING. THE CONTROLLERS IN THE TOWER WATCHED THE AIRCRAFT MAKE A STEEP 265 LEFT TURN, RAPIDLY LOSING ALTITUDE. THE PILOT SUFFERED SERIOUS BURN INJURIES, THE PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY THE IMPACT AND POST CRASH FIRE. NO INJURIES TO PEOPLE ON THE GROUND WERE REPORTED. RESCUE PERSONNEL SUFFERED MINOR BURN INJURIES. (-23)ATL98FA076 (.4)AT 1654, CAVEAT 7 WAS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 15 AT MAXWELL AFB. AT 1657, THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD OIL ON HIS WINDSHIELD. THE TOWER CONTROLLER WATCHED AS THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A STEEP LEFT TURN. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND ABOUT 250 FEET NORTHEAST OF A BURGER KING RESTAURANT, AND BURST INTO FLAMES. THE PASSENGER STATED AFTER TAKEOFF, AT 500 FEET, THE PASSENGER AND PILOT BOTH NOTICED OIL ON THE WINDSCREEN. AFTER THE PILOT TURNED DOWNWIND FOR THE FORCED LANDING, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. AT THIS POINT, THE WINDSCREEN WAS COMPLETELY COVERED WITH OIL. THE PASSENGER STATED THE AIRPLANE THEN NOSED DOWN, BANKED 45 DEGREES TO THE LEFT, AND THEY RETURNED TO LEVEL FLIGHT BEFORE IMPACTING THE PARKING LOT. ACCORDING TO AERO CLUB MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, THE ENGINE WAS SCHEDULED FOR REMOVAL THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE ENGINES' TOTAL TIME WAS AT TBO (TIME BETWEEN OVERHAUL). AFTER THE ACCIDENT, IT WAS NOTED, DURING THE ENGINE EXAMINATION, THAT THE CRANKSHAFT RUBBER SEAL ASSEMBLY (NOSE SEAL) WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE INCH FORWARD OF ITS NORMALLY INSTALLED POSITION. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THE NOSE SEAL WAS NOT THE CORRECT PART AS DESCRIBED IN THE ENGINE PARTS MANUAL. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ATL98FA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98FA076), May 14, 1998: Beech BE-45-T-34B (N9280Z), Montgomery, AL, destroyed. Probable cause: The installation of an incorrect engine nose seal that subsequently dislodged from the normally installed position, and resulted in the loss of engine power. A factor was the loss of engine oil. ## Other reports on N9280Z (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19930615026669I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930615026669I), Jun 15, 1993: Beech T34B (N9280Z), Olathe, KS, Minor damage. On short final the aircraft dragged a wingtip on grass shore of threshold. Aircraft landed safely. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.