# NTSB CEN20CA344: Beech 35, N6643Y, White Owl, SD, August 16, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 15, 2020, 20:00 local (Aug 16, 2020, 02:00 UTC) - Place: White Owl, SD - Coordinates: 44.604721, -102.38861 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6047&lon=-102.3886&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Rapid City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101808 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA344 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101808/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101808 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA344 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent impact with an obstacle and terrain. ## 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 V35B, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was taking off from a private dry grass airstrip that was slightly uphill and into a slight wind. As the airplane accelerated, the pilot had "increasing trouble keeping the airplane from going left." The airplane departed the airstrip to the left and collided with terrain and hay bales. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6643Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6643Y-2023-06-27), registration cancelled 2023-06-27, S/N D-10264, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 35 (V35B) - Registry model: [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b) (registry code 1151548) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-10264 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 3361.7 - Engines: Continental Motors IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 7, 2019 - Departed: None, White Owl, SD - Destination: Y14, Tea, SD - Airport: None, Private Airstrip, runway 27, 2,600 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 17, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 447 total, 377 in this make and model, 447 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 30° at 6 knots - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KD07, 30 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 20200816013259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200816013259A), Aug 16, 2020: Beech V35B, White Owl, SD, Substantial damage. Failed to maintain directional control during takeoff thru ground effect to climb out on take-off from unimproved grass strip. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101808. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10123963&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 257 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10124375&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.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.