# NTSB CEN19LA086: Beech 65, N62069, Colby, KS, February 22, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 22, 2019, 09:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Colby, KS - Coordinates: 39.427223, -101.05278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4272&lon=-101.0528&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 10, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99027 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99027/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99027 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA086 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to properly secure the crew hatch door before takeoff, which resulted in his distraction and his failure to maintain airplane control and airspeed. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 U-8F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1152801), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech U-8F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=1152801), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech U-8F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1152801), [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 U-8F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1152801), [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 U-8F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=1152801), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech U-8F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=1152801), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech U-8F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1152801), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, the pilot noticed that the crew hatch door, located next to the left front seat, had unexpectedly opened. The pilot attempted to close the door without success. He indicated that, while trying to close the door, he "wasn't able to fully control the airplane normally (mainly [in] heading and pitch)," so he initiated a precautionary landing back to the departure airport. While maneuvering at a low altitude to stay in visual flight rules conditions (overcast ceiling at 300 ft), the airplane's airspeed decreased, the wing tips were dipping back and forth, and the airplane exhibited signs of nearing its critical angle of attack. The pilot retracted the landing gear and applied full engine power to try to gain airspeed. The pilot was unable to gain airspeed, and the airplane was losing altitude. Before impact, the pilot kept the wings level and the nose in a slight pitch-up attitude. The airplane then impacted the snow-covered terrain with the landing gear retracted, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and aileron. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact malfunctions with the crew hatch door; thus, it is likely the door had not been properly secured before takeoff. ## Factual narrative On February 22, 2019, about 0945 central standard time, a Beech 65 airplane, N62069, impacted terrain near Colby, Kansas, while maneuvering for a precautionary landing. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by Bemidji Aviation Services, Inc., as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. Day instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The flight was originating from Shalz Field Airport (CBK), Colby, Kansas, and destined for Denver, Colorado. According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff, he noticed the crew hatch door, located next to the left front seat, had unexpectedly opened. The pilot attempted to close the door, without success. While focusing on trying to close the door, the pilot "wasn't able to fully control the airplane normally (mainly [in] heading and pitch)," so he initiated a precautionary landing back to CBK. While maneuvering at a low altitude to stay in visual flight rules conditions (overcast ceiling at 300 ft), the airplane's airspeed decreased, and the wing tips were dipping back and forth. The pilot retracted the landing gear and applied full engine power to try and gain airspeed. The pilot was unable to gain airspeed, the airplane was losing altitude, and he knew the airplane was going to impact terrain. Prior to the impact, the pilot kept the wings level, and the nose in a slightly pitch up attitude. The airplane then impacted the snow-covered terrain with the landing gear retracted. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the operator revealed the left wing and left aileron were bent. No evidence was noted that the crew hatch door malfunctioned during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N62069](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N62069), registered now, S/N 62-3866 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 65 - Registry model: [Beech U-8F](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-u-8f) (registry code 1152801) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 62-3866 - Year built: 1962 - Airframe hours: 8877 - Engines: Lycoming IA-720-A1B 400 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IA-720-A1B 400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Bemidji Aviation Services Inc - Registered owner: Bemidji Aviation Services Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 29, 2019 - Departed: CBK, Colby, KS - Destination: DEN, Denver, CO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CBK, Shalz Field Airport - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 18, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,550 total, 34 in this make and model, 2,444 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 10 knots - Visibility: 1.25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: CBK, 1 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 20190222010449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190222010449A), Feb 22, 2019: Beech U-8F, Colby, KS, Substantial damage. After landing at the Colby, KS (kcbk)airport, the pilot offloaded all cargo and prepared to fly under part 91 back to denver, co (kden). On takeoff from runway… ## Other investigations on N62069 (2) 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 CEN21LA274](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA274), Jun 17, 2021: Beech U-8F (N62069), Goodland, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel’s inadequate inspection of the airplane, which failed to detect and correct chafed electrical wiring and a degraded fuel bladder with holes, which resulted in ignition of fuel… - [NTSB CEN19LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA215), Jul 9, 2019: Beech 65 (N62069), Sidney, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper maintenance of the outboard left wing, which allowed electrical arcing and leaking of the fuel sending unit and subsequently resulted in ignition of fuel vapors and an explosion of the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 19, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99027. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 752 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471228&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471229&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Line Pilot Statement (item 3, .PDF, 689 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471230&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Line%20Pilot%20Statement-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.