# Accident 20040406006399A: Beech 95A55, Upper Lake, CA, April 6, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 6, 2004, 15:50 local time
- Place: Upper Lake, CA
- Airport: Gravelly Valley Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.7306° N, 122.5456° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7306&lon=-122.5456&mi=10
- Aircraft: N686H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N686H-2014-09-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech 95-A55 (registry code 1152704, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-a55) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental I0-470 series (registry code 17027, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 95A55
- Reported engine: CONT IO470*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 13,500 total, 500 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04CA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA179) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040406006399A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) PILOT FAILED TO USE FULL LENGTH OF RUNWAY AVAILABLE. TIRE PRINTS ON THE DIRT RUNWAY INDICATED THAT THE PILOT HAD APPROXIMATELY 2/3RDS OF THE AVAILABLE 2080 FEET OF AVAILABLE RUNWAY. THE SOFT SURFACE, UPHILL AND LIGHT WIND CONDITIONS ALL ADDED TO THE DIFFICULTIES OF DEPARTING IN THIS SHORT DISTANCE. APPROXIMATELY HALF WAY DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE AIRCRAFT CROSSED THE HARD SURFACED RUNWAY AND IN DOING SO THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE GROUND. SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED HAD NOT BEEN OBTAINED AND WHEN THE PILOT TRIED TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT STALLED STRIKING THE RIGHT WING TIP ON THE GROUND. THE PILOT TRIED TO RECOVER AND THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED TO THE GROUND IN A FIELD JUST OFF OF THE AIRPORT PROPERTY. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT WAS INCURRED. THE NOSE SHEARED FROM THE AIRCRAFT ALONG WIT THE GEAR DOORS FOR THE MAINS. THE MAINS FOLDED UP INTO THE WHEEL WELL. BOTH WINGS, PROPELLERS AND ENGINES RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. BOTH ENGINES APPEARED TO BE UNDER POWER AT IMPACT. SUFFICIENT FUEL WAS ON BOARD. NO MECHANICAL INTERRUPTIONS WERE NOTED. THE PILOT STATED TO THE NTSB AND THIS INSPECTOR THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 LAX04CA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA179), Apr 6, 2004: Beech 95-A55 (N686H), Montague, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during the takeoff climb, which led to a stall/mush. Factors to the accident were the uneven intersection of the two runways, and the pilot's…

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.

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