# Accident 20190222010449A: Beech U-8F, Colby, KS, February 22, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 22, 2019, 09:55 local time
- Place: Colby, KS
- Airport: Shalz Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: BEMA
- Location: 39.4272° N, 101.0528° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4272&lon=-101.0528&mi=10
- Aircraft: N62069, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N62069) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech U-8F (registry code 1152801, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-u-8f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH U-8F
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-720-A1B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,530 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN19LA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA086) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190222010449A

## Narrative

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

AFTER LANDING AT THE COLBY, KS (KCBK)AIRPORT, THE PILOT OFFLOADED ALL CARGO AND PREPARED TO FLY UNDER PART 91 BACK TO DENVER, CO (KDEN). ON TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 17, IMMEDEDIATELY AFTER ROTATION, THE CREW DOOR INADVERTENTLY OPENED. ATTEMPTS TO CLOSE THE DOOR WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PILOT BEGAN A LEFT TURN TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLIMB, THE PILOT RAISED THE LANDING GEAR. DUE TO 200-250 FOOT CEILINGS, THE PILOT STAYED LOW IN ORDER TO STAY VISUAL WITH THE RUNWAY. A WITNESS STATED AT ONE POINT THE PILOT ENTERED THE CLOUDS. THE PILOT STATED HE BEGAN TO NOTICE A SHUTTER IN THE AIRPLANE AND BELIEVED IT WAS THE ONSET OF A STALL. THE PILOT CROSSED MIDFIELD AND MADE A FORCED LANDING HEADING WEST IN A WHEAT FIELD JUST WEST AND ADJANCENT TO THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT WING IMPACTED FIRST. THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED 600-700 FEET TO A STOP SHORT OF A TREE LINE.

## 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 CEN19LA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA086), Feb 22, 2019: Beech 65 (N62069), Colby, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to properly secure the crew hatch door before takeoff, which resulted in his distraction and his failure to maintain airplane control and airspeed.

## Other reports on N62069 (2)

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

- [Accident 20210617013169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210617013169A), Jun 17, 2021: Beech U-8F (N62069), Goodland, KS, Substantial damage. Pilot statement: I started up the right engine and as I began to lean the mixture to stabilize the engine I heard a loud bang from the area of the right wing.…
- [Accident 20190709009719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190709009719A), Jul 9, 2019: Beech U-8F (N62069), Sidney, NE, Substantial damage. -LH wing outboard section exploded during takeoff roll. -Pilot aborted takeoff and taxied back to ramp area. -Pilot reported accident to operator. -LH outboard…

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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