# NTSB CHI95LA206: Beech 23A, N2397Q, Spearfish, SD, July 2, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 1995, 09:37 local (15:37 UTC) - Place: Spearfish, SD - Coordinates: 44.479278, -103.839363 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4793&lon=-103.8394&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor - Status: Completed, report November 8, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9930 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9930/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA206 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED RESULTING IN AN AERODYNAMIC STALL. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACCIDENT WERE REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE PILOT WAS NOT POSSIBLE DUE TO THE LOW ALTITUDE AT WHICH THE STALL TOOK PLACE. ## 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 - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - encountered, pilot in command - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor) - altitude - low (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis THE PILOT SAID HE HAD CLIMBED THE AIRPLANE TO ABOUT 75 TO 100 FEET AFTER TAKEOFF. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO STALL AND HE PITCHED THE NOSE DOWN WHEN HE NOTICED THE STALL. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND SHORTLY AFTER PITCHING IT DOWN. A WITNESS SAID HE OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE AT A LOW ALTITUDE AS IT FLEW OVER A HIGHWAY. AFTER CROSSING THE HIGHWAY, THE WITNESS SAID HE OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING DROP ABRUPTLY AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. ## Factual narrative On July 2, 1995, at 0937 mountain daylight time (mdt), a Beech B-23A, N2397Q, and piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed during a collision with the ground and subsequent fire shortly after takeoff from runway 16 (3,200' X 100' dry sod) at the Black Hills/Clyde Ice Field, Spearfish, South Dakota. 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 received serious injuries and the three passengers reported minor injuries. The flight departed Spearfish, South Dakota, at 0935 mdt. The pilot stated the airplane rotated about 3/4's of the way down the runway at 75 to 85 mph indicated airspeed. He said the airplane climbed to about 75 or 100 feet above the ground and began to stall. The pilot said he lowered the pitch attitude in an attempt to gain airspeed. The airplane did not gain airspeed and descended into the ground. A passenger in the airplane stated the airplane appeared to come to a stop shortly after takeoff. He said the airplane "...leaned left and descended with left wing down... ." An eye witness said he "...saw [the] aircraft extremely low, but level as it crossed..." a major highway. He continued, "Then [the] left wing dropped abruptly... [and the] plane then entered [the] ditch, bounced two times, came to a stop." According to a Federal Aviation Administration Principal Operations Inspector (POI) representing the NTSB on-scene, the airplane's weight and balance were within the manufacturer's limits. He said the airplane performance data showed it had adequate runway length for takeoff. On the accident date, construction equipment was located near the intersection of runways 12 and 16. Runway 16's usable length was reduced to 3,200 feet due to the construction equipment. The pilot's NTSB Form 6120.1/2 showed the pilot had not had a bienniel flight review since April 15, 1991. His medical date was shown as July 7, 1989. The pilot said his logbook was destroyed in the fire. He said he was unable to provide a breakdown of his flight time. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical defects that would prevent it from performing to its certificated limitations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2397Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2397Q-1999-06-11), registration cancelled 1999-06-11, S/N M-588 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 23A - Registry model: [Beech A23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a23) (registry code 1151204) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M588 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-346-A 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David A. Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1995 - Airport: SGF, Blk Hills/Clyde Ice Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 450 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RAP, 35 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 19950702015879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950702015879A), Jul 2, 1995: Beech A23, Spearfish, SD, Destroyed. On departure aircraft stalled, crashed, exploded in flames on impact. (-23) on July 2, 1995 at 0952 MDT, pilot david a. johnson took off from runway 16 at… 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.