# NTSB BFO96LA018: Beech 35, N5376E, Phillipsburg, OH, November 5, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 5, 1995, 14:10 local (19:10 UTC) - Place: Phillipsburg, OH - Coordinates: 39.910411, -84.400161 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9104&lon=-84.4002&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9111 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO96LA018 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9111/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO96LA018 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's (CFI's) inadequate supervision of the flying pilot, and the flying pilot's abrupt handling of the airplane during an attempted go-around. Factors relating to the accident were: the flying pilot's lack of familiarity with light piston engine airplanes (kind of aircraft), and the CFI's decision to allow an unfamiliar pilot to attempt the landing, when he (the CFI) did not have access to a full set of flight controls. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - planning/decision - poor, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - aircraft handling - abrupt, copilot/second pilot (cause) - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis THE FLIGHTCREW REPORTED THAT THE COMMERCIAL PILOT/PROSPECTIVE AIRPLANE BUYER, WHO OCCUPIED THE LEFT SEAT, WAS HANDLING THE FLIGHT CONTROLS THROUGHOUT THE LOCAL FLIGHT. THE PILOT IN THE RIGHT SEAT WAS A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI). WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH FOR THE RUNWAY, THE COMMERCIAL PILOT ANNOUNCED THAT HE INTENDED TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND. BOTH PILOTS REPORTED THAT WHEN THE COMMERCIAL PILOT INITIATED THE GO-AROUND, HE INADVERTENTLY PLACED THE AIRPLANE IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE CFI STATED THAT HE REACHED FOR THE FLIGHT CONTROL YOKE, AND ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE NOSE UP, BUT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO RECOVER. THE PILOTS ESTIMATED THAT THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND AT ABOUT A 30 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE WAS CONFIGURED WITH A SINGLE, THROW OVER YOKE, WHICH WAS POSITIONED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE COCKPIT. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS AN EX-MILITARY PILOT WITH VERY LITTLE TIME IN LIGHT PISTON ENGINE AIRPLANES. ## Factual narrative On November 5, 1995, at 1410 eastern standard time, a Beech 35, N5376E, operated as a sales demonstration flight, impacted terrain during an attempted go around at Phillipsburg Airport, in Phillipsburg, Ohio. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) and the commercial pilot/prospective aircraft buyer reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Phillipsburg, Ohio, at approximately 1340. The pilots reported that the commercial pilot, who was seated in the left seat, was handling the flight controls during the prepurchase familiarization flight. The accident airplane was configured with a throw over yoke, and the single set of flight controls was positioned on the left side of the cockpit. The CFI, who was seated in the right seat, had no immediate access to flight controls. The pilots reported that they returned to the Phillipsburg Airport after a brief local flight. They stated that traffic pattern operations and the approach to landing were normal, until the airplane was on short final approach for the runway, and the commercial pilot initiated a go around. Both pilots reported that when the commercial pilot reached for the throttle to apply power, he inadvertently placed the aircraft in a steep nose down attitude. The CFI stated that he reached across to the yoke on the left side of the cockpit, and tried to pull the nose up, but there was not enought altitude to recover. The pilots estimated that the airplane impacted the runway in an approximate 30 degree nose down attitude. Postaccident investigation revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomaly. The CFI stated that when the commercial pilot rated prospective buyer asked to fly the airplane, the CFI indicated that he had to be on board the airplane to comply with the insurance company's requirements. The CFI reported that he did not check the commercial pilot's credentials prior to the flight. The commercial pilot stated: "I told...that I had considerable flying time...but that I had very little time in small piston engine powered aircraft and I was not qualified in the Bonanza...most of my experience being in USAF fighter aircraft." He also stated that he was following the CFI's instruction throughout the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5376E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5376E-2010-07-30), registration cancelled 2010-07-30, S/N D-5904, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 35 - Registry model: [Beech K35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-k35) (registry code 1151524) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D5904 - Airframe hours: 3573 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-C 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Miller Aircraft, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 17, 1995, 12 hours before - Departed: 3I7 - Airport: 3I7, Phillipsburg, runway 21, 2,746 × 34 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: right; flight hours: 15,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DAY, 8 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 19951105035969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951105035969A), Nov 5, 1995: Beech K35, Phillipsburg, OH, Substantial damage. Sale demo by CFI with no dual control. Buyer on power to go around inadvertently caused nose down. Impacted runway. (-23) while giving a sales demo, and… 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.