20070929023369A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Beech B35 · Waterloo, IA · September 29, 2007

Date: September 29, 2007 · 20:20 local
Place: Waterloo, IA
Phase of flight: Final Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N55GW
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI07LA312
Reported as: Beech B35
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,601 total0 in this make and model30 in the last 90 days

N55GWRegistration cancelled Feb 11, 2009 · Beech B35S/N D-2497 · Built 1950 Airframe modelBeech B35 Engine modelContinental E225 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Aircraft departed waukesha, Wisconsin (ues) at approximately 1830 on September 29, 2007, enroute to Waterloo, Iowa (alo). Pilot received a VFR clearance to runway 18, and as reported by ATC, was experiencing difficulty locating the airport. At one point, he passed directly over and asked if the runway lights were on. At approximately 2015, the aircraft struck a tree and crashed in a soybean field approximately 1 mile north of runway 18. Sunset occurred in Waterloo at 1856 that evening. Pilot's log revealed 1 hour and 47 minutes of documented night flight since October 20, 1998, with the most recent being 47 minutes recorded on December 8, 2003.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN (UES) AT APPROXIMATELY 1830 ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2007, ENROUTE TO WATERLOO, IOWA (ALO). PILOT RECEIVED A VFR CLEARANCE TO RUNWAY 18, AND AS REPORTED BY ATC, WAS EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY LOCATING THE AIRPORT. AT ONE POINT, HE PASSED DIRECTLY OVER AND ASKED IF THE RUNWAY LIGHTS WERE ON. AT APPROXIMATELY 2015, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE AND CRASHED IN A SOYBEAN FIELD APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE NORTH OF RUNWAY 18. SUNSET OCCURRED IN WATERLOO AT 1856 THAT EVENING. PILOT'S LOG REVEALED 1 HOUR AND 47 MINUTES OF DOCUMENTED NIGHT FLIGHT SINCE OCTOBER 20, 1998, WITH THE MOST RECENT BEING 47 MINUTES RECORDED ON DECEMBER 8, 2003.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI07LA312Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportWaterloo, IAThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the trees and terrain during a night visual approach for landing. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's lack of recent night flying experience, the night conditions, and the trees.Sep 30, 2007 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N55GW · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 20041208032869IRoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Waterloo, IA(-23) Individual was conducting take-offs and landings at the Waterloo Municipal Airport (alo). As the pilot extended the landing gear, he stated he heard some unusual sounds coming from the nose gear. He stated he thought he had lost the nose wheel. He had…Dec 8, 2004 · Minor damage