ATL95LA170

NTSB accident investigation · Beech A35 · Knoxville, TN · September 25, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 25, 1995, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
Place
Knoxville, TN
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N8500ABeech A35
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 1, 1996
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950925030179A
Case key
3626

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to use the carburetor heat during the approach. The factors were: failure to obtain a weather briefing, and weather conditions favorable for the formation of carburetor icing.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanicalGo-around (vfr)
Weather condition - carburetor icing conditionsCause
Preflight briefing service - not usedPilot in commandCause
Carburetor heat - not usedPilot in commandFactor
Forced landingDescent - emergency
In flight collision with objectEmergency descent/landing
Object - building(nonresidential)
Object - tree(s)

Analysis

The commercial pilot abandoned the approach to a grass strip when he realized that the landing and roll out could not be executed on the remaining runway. During the go-around attempt, the engine developed a gradual loss of power, and the airplane settled into trees on the departure end of the runway. The airplane finally came to rest on top of a residential garage. During the subsequent functional engine examination, the engine operated normally. According to the pilot, he did not receive a weather briefing, and he was not aware of weather conditions that were favorable for the formation of carburetor icing. Carburetor heat was only checked, not used, by the pilot during the approach.

Factual narrative

On September 25, 1995, at 1645 eastern daylight time, a Beech BE-35-A35, N8500A, collided with the roof of a garage while on approach to Sanders Field in Knoxville, Tennessee. The personal flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the commercial pilot was not injured. The flight departed from Knoxville, Tennessee, at 1515 hours.

The pilot stated that he was landing at Sanders Field to get some maintenance performed on N8500A. He abandoned the approach when he realized that the landing and roll out could not be executed safely with the remaining runway. During the climb out phase of the go-around the engine developed a gradual loss of power. The pilot reported that the aircraft quit climbing and collided with a tree, and subsequently came to rest on a residential garage on the departure end of the runway.

Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or a component failure. During the subsequent functional engine examination, the engine operated normally. According to the pilot, he did not receive a weather briefing, and he was not aware of weather conditions that were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice (see attached carburetor icing probability curve). The pilot also stated the carburetor heat was only checked, not used, on the approach. According to the aircraft before landing checklist, "if icing conditions are indicated, carburetor heat may be carried, however, less power will be available for a go-around."

Aircraft

Registration
N8500A
Reported as
Beech A35
Category
Airplane
Serial number
D1922
Airframe hours
6,805
Engine
Continental E-225-8, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Perry Pemberton
Registered owner
Scott County Airtranst Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · January 1, 1995
Departed
DKX · TN
Airport
NONE · Sanders Field, runway 6, 1,100 × 100 ft, grass/turf

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
34
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,041 total · 215 in this make and model · 988 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 21 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
260° at 6 knots
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
2,300 ft overcast
Temperature
64 °F, dew point 61 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
TYS

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.