# NTSB CEN14LA458: Beech A36, N8176M, Houston, TX, August 26, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 26, 2014, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 29.77062, -95.679115 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7706&lon=-95.6791&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report March 26, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 89961 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA458 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89961/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89961 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA458 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the pilot’s retraction of the landing gear before establishing a positive climb rate, which resulted in a gear-up landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Beech A36, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot said that, shortly after takeoff, the airplane seemed to have a "performance/power loss" and that it was not climbing. He lowered the airplane's nose in an attempt to gain airspeed and retracted the landing gear. The airplane immediately descended back onto the runway, slid on its belly, and then struck several approach lights. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector witnessed the accident and said that, after the airplane departed, it entered a nose-high, exaggerated cross-control condition with the airplane's tail only about 10 ft above the runway. The inspector momentarily lost sight of the airplane, but, when he saw it again, it had landed on its belly and was sliding off the runway. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the landing gear should only be retracted on takeoff once a positive climb rate has been established. No preimpact mechanical deficiencies were identified that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On August 26, 2014, at 1800 central daylight time, N8176M, a Beechcraft A-36 single-engine airplane, sustained substantial damage on takeoff from West Houston Airport (IWS), Houston, Texas. The private pilot and the three passengers were not injured. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight that was destined for Monroe, Louisiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91. The pilot stated that he conducted a preflight inspection and engine run-up before takeoff and everything was normal. He then departed and rotated at 80 knots and the airplane began to climb. The pilot said, "A couple of seconds into the climb, I seemed to have a performance/power loss - no ability to climb. I leveled the nose in an attempt to gain airspeed - then slightly down. I engaged the landing gear up-switch, the plane began to descend." The airplane then landed back on its belly and slid off the runway and struck the runway's precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lights. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector was at the airport and witnessed the accident. He said he watched the airplane depart and cross in front of him from left to right "with a nose high attitude and in an exaggerated cross control condition." The inspector estimated the tail of the airplane was about 10 feet above the surface of the runway. The airplane disappeared from the inspector's view for a brief second and the next time he saw the airplane it was sliding on its belly. The inspector later examined the airplane and reported that it had sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage and firewall. The three bladed propeller was also damaged. One blade was missing approximately 4 inches from the tip and bent backwards in an arc covering approximately 2/3's of the blade. The other two blades where intact and were both bent backwards over 2/3 of the blade. No mechanical deficiencies were identified that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane and engine at the time of the accident. According to the Beech Bonanza A-36 Pilot Operating Handbook (POH), Section IV, TAKEOFF checklist, the landing gear is only to be retracted once a positive rate-of-climb is established. The pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land. He reported a total of 928 hours, of which, 149 hours were in the same make/model as the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8176M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8176M-2018-05-22), registration cancelled 2018-05-22, S/N E-2602, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 (UNDESIGNAT) - 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-2602 - Year built: 1991 - Airframe hours: 4107 - Engines: Teledyne IO-550-B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: N8176m LLC - Registered owner: N8176m LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 30, 2014, 10 hours before - Departed: IWS, Houston, TX - Destination: MLU, MONROE, LA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: IWS, West Houston, runway 15, 3,953 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 22, 2014; seat: left; flight hours: 928 total, 149 in this make and model, 46 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 9 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: IAH, 19 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 20140826015399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140826015399A), Aug 26, 2014: Beech A36, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft took off on runway 15 with PIC and three passengers at 1815 local time. PIC stated that once airborne the aircraft would not climb. The PIC elected to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 9, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89961. 922 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 601 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423254&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423255&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Excerpts from Beech A36 POH Takeoff Checklist (item 3, .PDF, 295 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423256&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Beech%20A36%20POH%20Takeoff%20Checklist-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.