# NTSB CHI92LA048: Beech A36, N61054, Rensselaer, IN, December 10, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 10, 1991, 05:50 local (10:50 UTC)
- Place: Rensselaer, IN
- Coordinates: 40.930084, -87.139808 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9301&lon=-87.1398&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15363
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI92LA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15363/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92LA048

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER AIRCRAFT HANDLING WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND DESCENT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE OBSCURATION & ICING CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - berm

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF ON RUNWAY 36 APPROXIMATELY 0545 HOURS. ABOUT 3/4 MILE NORTH AND SLIGHTLY EAST OF THE EXTENDED RUNWAY CENTERLINE, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND ON AN EASTERLY HEADING. THE RIGHT WING SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE AND GROUND FIRE ENSUED. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED THROUGH TREES, ACROSS A SET OF RAILROAD TRACKS, BEFORE IT CAME TO A REST IN AN OPEN FIELD POINTING IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION. STATE POLICE DESCRIBED THE WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AS 'FOGGY, HAZY...WITH NO CEILING. VISIBILITY IN IMMEDIATE AREA WAS GIVEN AS 1/8 TO 1/4 MILE. ICE AND FROST WAS READILY FORMING ON PATROL CAR ANTENNAE...' THE POLICE REPORT INDICATES 'THE AIRPLANE SURFACE WAS COVERED WITH FROST...(WHICH) WAS PRIMARILY GONE...BEFORE...PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE SCENE.' TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE REPORTED AS 26 DEGREES. THE PILOT HAD NO RECOLLECTION OF THE ACCIDENT. THERE WS NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL ANOMALY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N61054 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E-1938
- Airframe hours: 1194
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Rose Acre Farms
- Registered owner: Rose Acre Farms
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 11, 1991, 84 hours before
- Destination: SER, SEYMOUR, IN
- Airport: RZL, Jasper County, runway 36, 3,100 ×  ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 600 total, 160 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 290° at 3 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft broken
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAF, 34 nm away

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.

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