# NTSB CEN21LA189: Beech P35, N436T, Poplar Grove, IL, January 12, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 12, 2021, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Poplar Grove, IL - Coordinates: 42.321487, -88.837441 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3215&lon=-88.8374&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102909 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102909/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102909 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA189 ## Probable cause The pilot's distraction and his failure to maintain a proper glidepath on the approach, which resulted in him landing short of the runway and impacting a snowbank. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech P35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=1151530), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech P35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=1151530), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Terrain: snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech P35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md?model=1151530), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech P35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=1151530), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the approach, he landed short of the runway and impacted a snowbank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that during the approach, an airplane that had landed in front of him appeared to stop on the runway to turn back for the midfield taxiway. The pilot reported he was “focused on the airplane in front of him, instead of flying his airplane.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N436T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N436T), registered now, S/N D-7240, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH P35 - Registry model: [Beech P35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-p35) (registry code 1151530) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-7240 - Year built: 1963 - Engines: Continental IO470 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: RFD, Rockford, IL - Destination: C77, Poplar Grove, IL - Airport: C77, Poplar Grove, runway 30, 3,773 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,196 total, 1,107 in this make and model, 4.3 in the last 90 days, 4.3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KRFD, 15 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 20210112004989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210112004989A), Jan 12, 2021: Beech P35, Poplar Grove, IL, Substantial damage. Description of deviation: on 01/12/2021 at approximately 2129 CDT. N436T a Beech P35 aircraft, landed short of runway 30 at Poplar Grove Airport (C77). There… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 12, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102909. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12219761&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 924 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12245911&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-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.