# NTSB CEN17LA097: Beech BE35, N4213B, Ozark, MO, January 26, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 26, 2017, 15:25 local (21:25 UTC) - Place: Ozark, MO - Coordinates: 37.020832, -93.206108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0208&lon=-93.2061&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 94679 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA097 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94679/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94679 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA097 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to adequately monitor the environment and to maintain sufficient altitude to clear power lines. ## 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 F35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1151514), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech F35, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1151514), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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 F35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1151514), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech F35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=1151514), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Beech F35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1151514), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech F35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=1151514), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Beech F35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=1151514), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The purpose of the flight was for the pilot to gain some experience, with a pilot-rated passenger onboard, in his recently purchased airplane. The pilot reported that, after completing about 10 touch-and-go landings at a nearby airport, he flew the airplane back to his home airport for a full-stop landing. The pilot announced the he was entering a left downwind, reduced the speed, and lowered the landing gear. After turning to final approach, the pilot lowered the flaps and was concentrating on lining up the airplane on the runway centerline. The pilot-rated passenger stated that the airplane was lined up on the runway but that it seemed a little low. The passenger stated that, after passing over a tree line, the pilot surprised him by reducing the power rather than increasing it. Subsequently, the airplane descended into power lines and then impacted the ground and tumbled inverted. The pilot stated that he did not see the power lines nor that he was looking for any because they "had not been a factor" in his previous approaches. The power lines were located about 1/4 mile from the airport. Evidence at the accident site revealed that the airplane had impacted the top two lines of a four-line power line. After the accident, the pilot stated that there were no mechanical issues with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot failed to adequately monitor the environment and to maintain sufficient altitude to clear the power lines. ## Factual narrative On January 26, 2017, about 1525 central standard time, a Beech BE35 single engine airplane, N4213B, registered to a private individual, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the ground after a collision with power lines while on VFR approach to the Gimlin Airport (18MO), Ozark, Missouri. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and one pilot-rated passenger sustained serious injuries. The personal local flight was being conducted under the provisions of Federal Code of Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from 18MO about 1430. According to the pilot, the flight was intended to gain some experience in his recently purchased airplane. After completing about 10 touch and go landings at a nearby airport, the flight was returning to 18MO for a full stop landing. The pilot announced the he was entering a left downwind to runway 36, reduced speed, and lowered the landing gear. Upon turning to final approach, the pilot lowered the flaps and was concentrating on lining up the airplane on runway centerline. The pilot stated that he did not see the power lines, nor was he looking for any, because they "had not been a factor" in his previous three approaches. The last thing he remembered is "something had exploded" in his face," and opening his eyes inside the wreckage. After the accident, the pilot stated that there were no mechanical issues with the airplane. The pilot-rated passenger stated that the airplane was lined up with the runway on final and he felt that the airplane was a little low, but thought that the pilot was making a flat, power-on approach, due to the crosswinds. Upon passing over a tree line, he stated that the pilot surprised him by pulling back the power instead of adding power. The airplane seem to sink into the power lines. After colliding with the power lines, the airplane impacted the ground and tumbled inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The power lines were located about 1/4 mile from the airport. Evidence at the accident site showed that the airplane had collided with the top 2 lines of a 4-line power line. The propeller struck the top line and the nose gear hit the second line down. The airplane hit the ground with the right wing, tumbled, and came to rest inverted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4213B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4213B-2020-03-05), registration cancelled 2020-03-05, S/N D-4159 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH BE35 - Registry model: [Beech F35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f35) (registry code 1151514) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E225 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (registry code 17015, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-4159 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 6675 - Engines: Continental E225-8 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 22, 2017 - Departed: 18MO, Ozark, MO - Destination: 18MO, Ozark, MO - Airport: 18MO, Gimlin Airport - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 237 total, 10 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 14 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: SGF, 23 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 20170126009469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170126009469A), Jan 26, 2017: Beech F35, Ozark, MO, Substantial damage. Aircraft struck power lines on approach to runway 36. The power lines were located approximately 1400 feet south of the end of runway 36 and were approximately… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 11, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94679. 4.8 MB in all. - Memorandum for the Record - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 185 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471843&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20-%20Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Memorandum for the Record - Pilot Rated Passenger Statement (item 2, .PDF, 182 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471844&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20-%20Pilot%20Rated%20Passenger%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 4 photos, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471845&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.