# NTSB CHI02LA089: Beech D35, N5985C, Ankeny, IA, March 4, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 4, 2002, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Ankeny, IA - Coordinates: 41.720775, -93.599334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7208&lon=-93.5993&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54335 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54335/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54335 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA089 ## Probable cause the excessive flare by the pilot. The icing conditions were a contributing factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - flare - excessive, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane was substantially damaged during a hard landing. The pilot returned to the departure airport after encountering icing conditions along his intended route of flight. He also stated that there was ice accumulation on the airplane and that the airplane stalled early during the landing flare. ## Factual narrative On March 4, 2002, at 1300 central standard time, a Beech D35, N5985C, owned and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a hard landing on runway 18 (5,500 feet by 100 feet, concrete) at the Ankeny Regional Airport (IKV), Ankeny, Iowa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from the Ankeny Regional Airport at 1240. The pilot reported in a written statement, "I departed IKV on [runway 18] and climbed to 3,000 [feet] on course to SPW (Spencer IA). I noticed some ice starting to form on the windshield. I called Flightwatch on [122.0]. They said only reported ice was 9000-12000 [feet]. I asked for weather to Spencer. They gave me the same weather I had gotten from FSS prior to departure. Ceiling 3200 broken, [possible] light snow flurries. Snow had passed to the east. As more ice started to form I decided to return to IKV. I called DSM approach for flight following when over Saylorville Lake. I was VFR. I proceeded to IKV. I did a normal pattern, but when flaring to land, the plane stalled early. The nose wheel hit the runway hard..." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5985C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5985C-2017-05-23), registration cancelled 2017-05-23, S/N D-3410, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech D35 - Registry model: [Beech D35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d35) (registry code 1151510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E225 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (registry code 17015, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D3410 - Airframe hours: 4342 - Engines: Continental E-225-8 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Conrad W. Randell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 18, 2002, 14 hours before - Departed: IKV, Ankeny, IA - Destination: SPW, SPENCER, IA - Airport: IKV, Ankeny Regional Airport, runway 18, 5,500 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 5, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 2,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: DSM, 16 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 20020304007689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020304007689A), Mar 4, 2002: Beech D35, Ankeny, IA, No damage. (-23) Mr. Randell, the pilot stated that he had a weather briefing prior to departing Ankeny, IA airport. Mr. Randell was alone in his aircraft and he… ## Other investigations on N5985C (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 ATL06WA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06WA036), Jan 15, 2006: Beech D35 (N5985C), Tierra Blanca, Costa Rica, destroyed, 2 fatal - [NTSB CHI97LA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA119), Apr 29, 1997: Beech D35 (N5985C), Lexington, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: flutter for an undetermined reason, which resulted in structural damage to the aft fuselage. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54335. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392731&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Information (item 2, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40164385&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-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.