# NTSB BFO94LA150: Beech 36, N15512, Georgetown, DE, August 26, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 26, 1994, 12:52 local (16:52 UTC) - Place: Georgetown, DE - Coordinates: 39.619609, -75.729019 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6196&lon=-75.7290&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 31, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8970 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8970/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA150 ## Probable cause THE ISSUANCE OF A NOTAM WITH INADEQUATE INFORMATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT, AND THE LACK OF VISUAL CUES CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION BARRIER. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - notams - inaccurate (cause) - airport facilities,runway sign(s) - inadequate (contributing factor) - visual/aural detection (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway sign(s) - lack of frangibility ## Analysis DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON RUNWAY 22, THE PILOT NOTICED AN OBSTRUCTION (ROW OF RAILROAD TIES) THAT HAD BEEN PLACED ON THE RUNWAY AS A CONSTRUCTION BARRIER. SHE APPLIED BRAKES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE BEFORE IT COLLIDED WITH THE BARRIER. AN FAA INSPECTOR STATED THE AIRPLANE HAD TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 3000 FEET DOWN THE 5000 FOOT LONG RUNWAY. THE CONSTRUCTION BARRIER WAS LOCATED 1250 FEET FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY GIVING IT AN EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF 3750 FEET. A NOTAM STATED ONLY THAT THE THRESHOLD FOR RUNWAY 4 WAS DISPLACED 1250 FEET. THE PILOT HAD OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING FOR AN IFR FLIGHT, BUT STATED THAT SHE DID NOT RECEIVE NOTAM INFORMATION ABOUT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. ALSO, SHE SAID THAT THERE WERE NO DISPLACED THRESHOLD MARKINGS AND THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO SEE ANY OBSTRUCTION FROM THE AIR. ## Factual narrative On August 26, 1994, at 1252 eastern daylight time, N15512, a Beech 36, owned and operated by Monica H. Mc Gill of Dallas, Texas, collided with a construction barrier on the runway during landing on runway 22 at Georgetown Airport, Georgetown, Delaware. The certificated private pilot and her two passengers were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The personal flight was operated under 14 CFR 91 and originated in Knoxville, Tennessee. The pilot reported that the airplane touched down on runway 22 and during the rollout she noticed obstructions on the runway. She stated that she applied the brakes but was unable to avoid colliding with the construction barriers on the runway. According to an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector, the airplane touched down about 3000 feet down the 5000 foot long runway and was unable to stop to avoid hitting barriers at the end of the runway. At the time of the accident there was construction ongoing on the runway. The FAA stated that there was a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) with regard to runway 4. It stated that, "...runway four threshold displaced 1250 feet." The FAA also stated that Dover approach control advised the pilot that the landing runway was partially closed. The FAA also stated that according to the FAA Airport Engineering office in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, there was no prohibition regarding the use of railroad ties to close portions of the Georgetown Airport runway which was under repair. The airplane was examined at the accident site by the FAA Safety Inspector and there was no evidence of mechanical malfunction. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if the NOTAM issued by the Flight Service Station was worded as follows, "runway 4 has an obstruction crossing the runway approximately 1200 feet from the beginning of runway 04." The Airman's Information Manual states in part, "sometimes constructionist or maintenance activities require the threshold to be relocated towards the departure end of the runway. In these cases, a NOTAM should be issued by the airport operator identifying the portion of the runway that is closed, e.g., First 2,000 feet of Runway 24 closed." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N15512](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N15512), registered now, S/N E-2486, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-2486 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-550-B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Monica H Mc Gill - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 1994, 808 hours before - Departed: TYS, KNOXVILLE, TN - Destination: GED, DE - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: GED, Sussex County, runway 22, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 807 total, 305 in this make and model, 697 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SBY, 22 nm away ## 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 19940826023639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940826023639A), Aug 26, 1994: Beech A36, Georgetown, DE, Substantial damage. Landing long ran into barrier on last 1200 feet of runway under construction. NOTAM out on runway obstruction. 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.