20120512009269A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Beech 3NM · Pope Valley, CA · May 12, 2012

Date: May 12, 2012 · 12:30 local
Place: Pope Valley, CA
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N9540
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR12LA201
Reported as: Beech 3NM
Reported engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 series
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0

N9540Registered now · Beech 3NMS/N CA-244 · Built 1952 Airframe modelBeech 3NM Engine modelPratt & Whitney R-985 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.

During the take off roll, after rotation and a few feet above the ground, pilot lost power on right engine which was confirmed by mechanic sitting in right seat. Pilot did not have enough runway to land, he decided to crash the aircraft in a vineyard straight in front of him.

As the FAA filed it

DURING THE TAKE OFF ROLL, AFTER ROTATION AND A FEW FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, PILOT LOST POWER ON RIGHT ENGINE WHICH WAS CONFIRMED BY MECHANIC SITTING IN RIGHT SEAT. PILOT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH RUNWAY TO LAND, HE DECIDED TO CRASH THE AIRCRAFT IN A VINEYARD STRAIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM.

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 WPR12LA201Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPope Valley, CAA loss of power in one engine during takeoff, which resulted in a forced landing in a vineyard. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined from the available evidence.May 12, 2012 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N9540 · 2

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

Incident 19880817054989IRoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Kenai, AKTail gear collapsed on rollout. Found tail gear retract chain had broken. Aircraft flown to anc for repairs.Aug 17, 1988 · Minor damage Accident 19841016060619ALevel Off Touchdown · Selawik, AKFailed to extend gear for landing after straight in approach on short airstrip.Oct 16, 1984 · Substantial damage