# NTSB ATL95LA170: Beech A35, N8500A, Knoxville, TN, September 25, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 25, 1995, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Knoxville, TN - Coordinates: 35.860652, -84.099288 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8607&lon=-84.0993&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3626 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3626/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA170 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, go-around (vfr) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (cause) - preflight briefing service - not used, pilot in command (cause) - carburetor heat - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8500A-2006-08-09), registration cancelled 2006-08-09, S/N D-1922, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A35 - Registry model: [Beech A35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a35) (registry code 1151504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D1922 - Airframe hours: 6805 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950925030179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950925030179A), Sep 25, 1995: Beech A35, Knoxville, TN, Substantial damage. Too high for short runway. Began go around. Engine quit struck tree and landed on garage roof. Carb icing existed. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.