# NTSB CEN10TA006: Beech E18S, N797SB, Jones Creek, TX, October 3, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: October 3, 2009, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Jones Creek, TX - Coordinates: 28.985277, -95.510276 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9853&lon=-95.5103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 74856 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10TA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74856/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74856 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10TA006 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to see and avoid the radio tower. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech E18S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1151006), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tower/antenna (incl guy wires)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech E18S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/cases.md?model=1151006), [All aircraft, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Beech E18S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1151006), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech E18S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=1151006), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech E18S, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151006), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was spraying a marshy area for mosquitoes. After making a spray pass, he made a right 180-degree turn to an easterly heading and the right wing struck a radio tower. The pilot didn't know the extent of the damage and there appeared to be a "controllability issue." He elected to land in a pasture. During the landing, the airplane struck and killed a cow and a bull, then collided with a pile of wood, resulting in substantial damage. The unlit 100-foot radio tower was within the walls of a correctional facility, was used for ground communications, and has been there for several years. It was not marked on sectional charts. ## Factual narrative On October 3, 2009, approximately 1030 central daylight time, a Beech E18S, N797SB, operated by Brazoria County, Texas, and piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck a radio tower and impacted terrain while maneuvering near Lake Jackson, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The public use flight was being operated as an aerial application flight for mosquito control. The pilot, the sole occupant on board the airplane, was not injured. The flight originated at Brazoria County Airport (LBX), Angleton, Texas, approximately 0915. According to the pilot's accident report, he was spraying a marshy area. After making a spray pass, the pilot made a right 180-degree turn to a easterly heading, and the right wing struck a radio tower. The pilot did not know the extent of the damage and there appeared to be a "controllability issue." He elected to land in a pasture. During the landing, the airplane struck and killed a cow and a bull, then collided with a pile of wood. The on-scene investigation revealed the airplane landed in a field about a mile away. The left engine, left landing gear, and tail wheel were torn off. Parts of the communications antenna were still embedded in the right wing edge, just outboard of the engine. The right propeller was gouged. According to the FAA inspector who went to the scene, the unlit 100-foot radio tower was within the walls of the Clemens Correctional Facility, was used for ground communications, and has been there for several years. It is not marked on the Houston Sectional Chart. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N797SB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N797SB-2016-08-31), registration cancelled 2016-08-31, S/N BA-172, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH E18S - Registry model: [Beech E18S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e18s) (registry code 1151006) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: BA-172 - Engines: P&W R-985 SERIES 450 horsepower reciprocating; P&W R-985 SERIES 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - local, Public use - Operator: Brazoria County - Registered owner: Brazoria County - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: LBX, Angleton, TX - Destination: LBX, Angleton, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,832 total, 37 in this make and model, 1,735 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 2,927 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: LBX ## 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 20091003018199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091003018199A), Oct 3, 2009: Beech E18S, Angleton/Lake, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot took off from klbx at approximately 0945L to perform mosquitoe spraying. At approximately 1020L right wing of aircraft struck a 100 foot radio broadcast… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 5, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74856. 4.4 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 484 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320848&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - FAA Form 8020-23, Aircraft Accident Report (item 2, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Form%208020-23,%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Statement from FAA FSDO Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320849&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20from%20FAA%20FSDO%20Inspector-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320855&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Right wing leading edge damage. (item 5, .PDF, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Right%20wing%20leading%20edge%20damage.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Collapsed left main gear and separated left engine. (item 6, .PDF, 250 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320852&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Collapsed%20left%20main%20gear%20and%20separated%20left%20engine.-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Close-up view of right wing leading edge damage. (item 7, .PDF, 235 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320853&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Close-up%20view%20of%20right%20wing%20leading%20edge%20damage.-Master.PDF - Photo 4. Damaged radio tower. (item 8, .PDF, 221 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320854&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20Damaged%20radio%20tower.-Master.PDF 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.