CHI94LA228

NTSB accident investigation · Beech 58 · Oelwein, IA · July 9, 1994

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 9, 1994, 10:57 local (15:57 UTC)
Place
Oelwein, IA
Injuries
4 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N6404ZBeech 58
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 12, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
9592

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

the pilot's decision to land on a runway with a tailwind. Factors associated with the accident were the tailwind and the wet runway.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

OverrunLanding - roll
Weather condition - tailwindFactor
Airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wetFactor
Wrong runway - selectedPilot in commandCause

Analysis

The pilot reported he flew in instrument meteorological conditions en route to the destination airport. He had planned an instrument approach to runway 13. Descending through 3,000 feet he encountered visual conditions, cancelled IFR, and flew a visual arrival to runway 13. He requested an airport advisory on the unicom frequency with no response. The pilot said he landed with a tailwind on the wet runway. Winds were from 290 degrees at 11 knots. A witness saw the airplane land long and porpoise during the landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage when it departed the runway.

Factual narrative

On July 9, 1994, at 1057 central daylight time, a Beech BE-58 airplane, N6404Z, sustained substantial damage when it departed the end of runway 13 while landing at the Oelwein Municipal Airport in Oelwein, Iowa. The private pilot and three passengers aboard sustained no injuries. The personal flight departed the Jeffco Airport in Denver, Colorado about 0700 mountain daylight time and was conducted under CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions were reported at the accident airport and an IFR flight plan was filed.

The pilot conducted the en route portion of the flight in instrument meteorological conditions. Descending through 3,000 feet he acquired visual meteorological conditions, cancelled IFR with Waterloo Approach Control, and proceeded to the Oelwein Municipal Airport under VFR.

The pilot reported he had planned an instrument approach to runway 13. He attempted to obtain an airport advisory on the unicom frequency with no response. He said he used full flaps and landed on the wet runway with a tailwind.

The automated weather observation system on the airport reported the winds were 290 degrees at 11 knots about the time of the accident. A standard wind sock and wind tee were located on the north side of the field.

During a telephone interview, an employee of Connel Aviation, a local fixed-base operator (FBO), stated they were monitoring the unicom frequency and did not hear the request for an airport advisory. He said the aircraft landed long and it porpoised during the landing.

An Officer from the Oelwein Police Department reported two skid marks on the runway, "from the airplanes landing gear", and estimated the length of the marks to be several hundred feet. He administered a preliminary breath test (PBT) to the pilot which yielded a result of .000.

Aircraft

Registration
N6404Z
Reported as
Beech 58
Category
Airplane
Serial number
TJ-404
Airframe hours
2,300
Engine
Continental TSIO-520, 325 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Roy J. Durbin
Registered owner
Accent Air Ltd.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
BJC · Denver, CO
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
OLZ · Oelwein Municipal, runway 13, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
42
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
961 total · 62 in this make and model · 869 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
290° at 11 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
4,400 ft broken
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 64 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
OLZ