# NTSB BFO89LA042: Beech T-34B, N91072, Suffolk, VA, June 5, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 5, 1989, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Suffolk, VA
- Coordinates: 36.699523, -76.629234 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6995&lon=-76.6292&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11506
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89LA042
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11506/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89LA042

## Probable cause

AN INADVERTENT STALL DUE TO FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO OBTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI).  THE INOPERATIVE STALL WARNING SYSTEM WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. THE INTERMITTENT INTERCOMM PROBLEM WAS A POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - stall warning system - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - comm/nav equipment,intercom - failure,partial
  - lift-off - premature
  - airspeed - not obtained, dual student (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff

## Analysis

THE CFI AND STUDENT WERE PERFORMING A SIMULATED SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF FROM A PAVED RWY WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CFI STATED THAT FULL PWR WAS APPLIED WITH 75 PERCENT FLAPS AND FULL BACK STICK WAS USED. ONCE AIRBORNE, BACK PRESSURE WAS RELEASED AND THE ACFT SETTLED TO THE RWY. BACK PRESSURE WAS AGAIN APPLIED AND THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE. ONCE AGAIN, BACK PRESSURE WAS RELEASED AND THE ACFT SETTLED TOWARD THE RWY. TO PREVENT THE ACFT FROM CONTACTING THE RWY, THE CFI APPLIED BACK PRESSURE AND THE ACFT ENTERED WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A LEFT YAWING TURN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CONTACTED THE TERRAIN IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE AND SKIDDED TO A STOP OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE CFI REPORTED THE REAR COCKPIT STALL WARNING WAS INOP AND THE INTERCOMM SYSTEM HAD AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N91072 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH T-34B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BG-274
- Airframe hours: 9382
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: U.S. Navy
- Registered owner: U.S. Navy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 26, 1989, 99 hours before
- Departed: NGU, NORFOLK, VA
- Airport: SFQ, Suffolk Muni, runway 25, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,800 total, 50 in this make and model, 2,100 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 95 °F

## 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 19890605054519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890605054519A), Jun 5, 1989: Beech T34B, Suffolk, VA, Substantial damage. Tried to make short field takeoff with 75 degree flaps. Airplane near stall failed to reduce flaps and impacted.

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.

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