# NTSB CEN12LA373: Beech 35-A33, N334Z, Gardner, KS, June 6, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 6, 2012, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Gardner, KS - Coordinates: 38.644721, -94.96083 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6447&lon=-94.9608&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO Kansas City - NTSB case key (mKey): 83983 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA373 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83983/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83983 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA373 ## Probable cause The pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff when the airplane was not accelerating as expected. Contributing to the accident was a wind shift during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 35-A33, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=1151404), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 35-A33, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=1151404), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 35-A33, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=1151404), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis After an uneventful local flight, the pilot landed and refueled the airplane. The pilot planned to demonstrate a soft field takeoff, departing to the south on the 3,237-foot-long grass runway. The pilot stated that when the airplane lifted off, he leveled it to accelerate in ground effect; however, the airplane did not accelerate as he expected. As the airplane continued along the runway, the pilot realized that the airplane was not going to make it over a fence near the departure end of the runway. The airplane collided with the fence and came to rest in a pasture, resulting in substantial damage to wings. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any evidence of mechanical malfunction or failure that could explain the pilot's report of diminished performance during takeoff. Additionally, the pilot reported that the airplane was operating normally during the earlier flight and during preflight engine run-up just before takeoff. The pilot reported that the wind was variable out of the east at 8-10 knots. An automated weather observation recorded 3 miles from the accident site, reported the wind from 120 degrees at 6 knots at the time of the accident. The airport manager reported that the wind had been out of the south just before the accident, but after he was notified of the accident he checked the windsock again and it showed wind from the north-northeast. Based on the available wind information and the pilot's report of diminished performance during takeoff, it is likely that the airplane encountered a wind shift to a tailwind during the takeoff roll. The pilot stated that he should have aborted the takeoff earlier. ## Factual narrative On June 6, 2012, approximately 1300 central daylight time, a Beech 35-A33, N334Z, registered to KCN Aero Club INC., of Kansas City Missouri, was substantially damaged when it impacted a fence after takeoff from runway 17 at the Gardner Municipal Airport (K34), Gardner, Kansas. The airline transport rated pilot and the airline transport rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity and a flight plan was not filed. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight was intended to train and familiarize an aero club member in the club-owned Beech 35-A33. After about 1.2 hours of uneventful local flying, the airplane was landed and refueled. After a successful runup with no anomalies noted, the pilot set up to demonstrate a soft field takeoff from the 3,237 foot long grass runway. As the airplane lifted into ground effect, the pilot thought that the acceleration was not as he expected. As the airplane continued, the pilot knew that the airplane was not going to make it over a fence near the departure end of the runway. The airplane collided with the fence and came to rest in a pasture resulting in substantial damage to wings. Examination of the airframe and engine after the accident did not show any evidence of mechanical malfunction or abnormalities that could explain the pilot's report of diminished performance during takeoff. Additionally, the pilot reported that the airplane was operating normally during the earlier flight and during preflight runup just prior to takeoff. The takeoff was to the south, heading 170 degrees. The pilot reported that the wind was variable from 090-110 degrees at 8-10 knots. The automated weather report from New Century Airport (IXD), located 3 miles from the accident site, reported the wind from 120 degrees at 6 knots. The airport manager of K34 reported that he did not see the accident in person. He was sitting in his office when he received a phone call from the tower chief at New Century (IXD) asking if he knew anything about an airplane off the runway. Just before he got the phone call he heard that another aircraft had taken off from runway 8 at Johnson County Executive Airport (OJC). OJC was located 11 miles to the east of K34. He thought that was odd because the wind had been out of the south. He then checked the windsock K34 and it was showing wind from the North Northeast. He estimated that he saw the windsock about 5 or 10 minutes before getting the call from the tower chief from New Century. On the submitted NTSB Form 6120, Recommendation Section, the pilot stated that if the airplane was not performing as expected, for any reason, the takeoff should be aborted as soon as there was an indication of abnormal performance. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N334Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N334Z-2017-09-26), registration cancelled 2017-09-26, S/N CD-229, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 35-A33 - Registry model: [Beech 35-A33](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35-a33) (registry code 1151404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CD-229 - Airframe hours: 3450 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-470 SERIES 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kcn Aero Club Inc - Registered owner: Kcn Aero Club Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2011, 80 hours before - Departed: GDM, Gardner, KS - Destination: GDM, Gardner, KS - Airport: GDM, Gardner Municipal Airport, runway 17, 3,237 × 90 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 9, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 16,698 total, 77 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: IXD, 3 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 20120606010239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120606010239A), Jun 6, 2012: Beech 35-A33, Gardner, KS, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Was demonstrating a soft field takeoff on runway 17, a 3,200-foot sod runway. The wind was from the north-northeast at 10 knots, a… ## Other investigations on N334Z (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC67F0027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC67F0027), Jun 17, 1966: Beech 35-33 (N334Z), Berkeley, MO, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 7, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83983. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396724&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Airport Manager (item 2, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396725&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Airport%20Manager-Redacted.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.