CHI95LA037

NTSB accident investigation · Beech G35 · Frankfort, IL · November 11, 1994

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 11, 1994, 11:26 local (17:26 UTC)
Place
Frankfort, IL
Injuries
1 minor, 2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N4469DBeech G35
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 21, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19941111038259A
Case key
9797

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

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Probable cause

Failure of the pilot to see-and-avoid the vehicle, and the vehicle driver's disregard for the need to remain clear of the aircraft's approach path. A factor related to the accident was: the proximity of a parked airplane to the 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.

In flight collision with objectApproach - vfr pattern - final approach
Object - vehicle
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Unsafe/hazardous condition - disregardedDriver of vehicleCause
Landing gear,main gear - overload
Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Directional control - not possiblePilot in command
Ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - aircraft parked/standingFactor

Analysis

While on short final to land, the left main gear contacted the roll bar on a bulldozer which was on a flat bed trailer being pulled by a truck. The truck had been driven out of a parking lot next to the runway and turned onto a road which was 30 feet from the approach end of the runway. The pilot stated he never saw the truck until after he landed. After landing, the airplane veered to the left, traveled off the runway, and contacted a parked Cessna 170 airplane. The driver of the truck reportedly saw the airplane, but was not concerned.

Factual narrative

On November 11, 1994, at 1126 central standard time, a Beech G35, N4469D, registered to Ernest Burnell of Fontana, Wisconsin, and flown by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during landing at the Frankfort Airport, Frankfort, Illinois. The personal flight was operating under CFR 14 Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot and one passenger were not injured, a second passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated from East Troy, Wisconsin, on November 11, 1994, at 1100 central standard time.

While on short final approach to land on runway 09, N4469D contacted the roll bar of a bullbozer which was on a flat-bed trailer being pulled by a truck. The truck had pulled out of a parking lot next to the runway and turned south on a road which is located just off the approach end of the runway. The left main gear was damaged on contacting the bulldozer. The pilot continued flying the airplane and landed on runway 09. Upon touchdown, according to the pilot, the airplane veered abruptly to the left and departed the north side of the runway. N4469D traveled through the grass into a tie down area where it contacted a parked Cessna 170.

The pilot stated he did not see the truck prior to the collision as it was hidden under the wing of the airplane. According to the pilot, the driver of the truck saw the airplane but did not think anything about it. The end of the runway is approximately 30 feet from the road.

Aircraft

Registration
N4469D
Reported as
Beech G35
Category
Airplane
Serial number
4609
Airframe hours
3,905
Engine
Continental E225-8, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Ernest L. Burnell
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · November 8, 1994 · 2 hours before
Departed
57C · East Troy, WI
Destination
C18
Airport
C18 · Frankfort, runway 9, 3,168 × 50 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
33
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
899 total · 200 in this make and model · 899 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
90° at 20 knots, gusting 30
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
61 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N4469D · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.