20130718013999A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Beech 23 · Laurel, MD · July 18, 2013

Date: July 18, 2013 · 09:45 local
Place: Laurel, MD
Airport: Laurel Suburban
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N2333Z
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA13FA325
Reported as: Beech 23
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,571 total2,700 in this make and model15 in the last 90 days

N2333ZRegistration cancelled Aug 5, 2013 · Beech 23S/N M-49 · Built 1962 Airframe modelBeech 23 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 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.

The aircraft had just departed Suburban airpark, Laurel Maryland (W18). One witness stated he heard the engine sputtering. The aircraft went down about a mile northeast of the airport in a trailer park. The aircraft struck a tree which sheared off the right wing and that wing went into a trailer home. The left wing went into another trailer home and the fuselage was against the side of the trailer. Two people pulled the pilot from the wreckage. These people did not hear any engine noise , only the crash. There was no fire. Emergency response was quick and the pilot was taken to shock trauma in critical condition.

Pilot statement to inspector j. pratt 8/13/2013: climbing out of W18, everything felt normal on takeoff. Engine quit at about 250 ft, began windmilling. I switched fuel tanks and checked the fuel pump. I tried to line up on a road in the trailer park. That is the last thing I recall. I am in physical rehab now (hospital in-patient).

As the FAA filed it

THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST DEPARTED SUBURBAN AIRPARK, LAUREL MARYLAND (W18). ONE WITNESS STATED HE HEARD THE ENGINE SPUTTERING. THE AIRCRAFT WENT DOWN ABOUT A MILE NORTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT IN A TRAILER PARK. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE WHICH SHEARED OFF THE RIGHT WING AND THAT WING WENT INTO A TRAILER HOME. THE LEFT WING WENT INTO ANOTHER TRAILER HOME AND THE FUSELAGE WAS AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE TRAILER. TWO PEOPLE PULLED THE PILOT FROM THE WRECKAGE. THESE PEOPLE DID NOT HEAR ANY ENGINE NOISE , ONLY THE CRASH. THERE WAS NO FIRE. EMERGENCY RESPONSE WAS QUICK AND THE PILOT WAS TAKEN TO SHOCK TRAUMA IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

PILOT STATEMENT TO INSPECTOR J. PRATT 8/13/2013: CLIMBING OUT OF W18, EVERYTHING FELT NORMAL ON TAKEOFF. ENGINE QUIT AT ABOUT 250 FT, BEGAN WINDMILLING. I SWITCHED FUEL TANKS AND CHECKED THE FUEL PUMP. I TRIED TO LINE UP ON A ROAD IN THE TRAILER PARK. THAT IS THE LAST THING I RECALL. I AM IN PHYSICAL REHAB NOW (HOSPITAL IN-PATIENT).

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 ERA13FA325Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportLaurel, MDThe pilot's inadequate preflight preparation of the airplane, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during takeoff and his decision to operate the unairworthy airplane.Jul 18, 2013 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N2333Z · 1

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

Incident 19850720040059IFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Cheyenne, WYDue to density altitude, aircraft was unable to outclimb terrain. Landed on highway median damaging gear.Jul 20, 1985 · Minor damage