# NTSB CHI97LA040: Beech B55, N17732, Park Rapids, MN, December 6, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 6, 1996, 07:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Park Rapids, MN - Coordinates: 46.910625, -95.060302 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9106&lon=-95.0603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10498 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10498/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA040 ## Probable cause the pilot's high flare. Factors were the icing weather condition and the airframe ice. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - wing - ice (contributing factor) - stabilizer - ice (contributing factor) - flare - misjudged, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis In her written statement, the pilot reported that there was 'slight trace ice' in the clouds. She flew a localizer approach. On short final, the airspeed was 'slightly (5knots) below blue line.' She 'felt buffet, yaw, flutter... added power.' The airplane 'yawed to the right with the addition of power.' She initiated a go around. The airplane began to 'buck and yaw uncontrollably.' She lowered the pitch attitude, raised the landing gear, and 'attempted flaps up.' The airplane settled on the south side of the runway in a snow bank. The pilot rated passenger stated that the pilot 'flared high' and 'over corrected.' He reported that the airplane 'rocked violently' up to 60 degrees of bank. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. Photographs of the airplane, taken after the accident, exhibit a ridge of approximately 1/8 inch of rime ice on the upper portion of the wing and stabilizer leading edges. ## Factual narrative On December 6, 1996, at 0700 central standard time, a Beech B55, N17732, operated by Midwest Surgical Services, Inc., was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during an aborted landing in Park Rapids, Minnesota. The commercial pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91, business flight originated in St. Cloud, Minnesota, at 0615, with a planned destination of Park Rapids, Minnesota. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. In her written statement, the pilot reported that there was "slight trace ice" in the clouds. She flew a localizer approach. On short final, the airspeed was "slightly (5knots) below blue line." She "felt buffet, yaw, flutter... added power." The airplane "yawed to the right with the addition of power." She initiated a go around. The airplane began to "buck and yaw uncontrollably." She lowered the pitch attitude, raised the landing gear, and "attempted flaps up." The airplane settled on the south side of the runway in a snow bank. The pilot rated passenger wrote "we picked up light ice on the descent. We made the decision to apply only approach flaps on descent due to ice on the tail. We crossed over the threshold of runway 31 a little high. As we approached to land, [the pilot] flared the airplane and we felt the buffeting of a stall. During a telephone interview conducted on March 18, 1997, he reported that the pilot "flared high" and "over corrected." He reported that the airplane "rocked violently" up to 60 degrees of bank. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector who examined the airplane reported no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. Photographs of the airplane, taken after the accident, exhibit a ridge of approximately 1/8 inch of rime ice on the upper portion of the wing and stabilizer leading edges. The left side propeller blades were curled aft from midspan outboard. The right side propeller blades were curled aft at the tips and bent forward from midspan outboard. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N17732](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17732), registered now, S/N TE-1102, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech B55 - Registry model: [Beech E-55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e-55) (registry code 1152732) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TE-1102 - Airframe hours: 3929 - Engines: Continental IO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Midwest Surgical Services, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 31, 1995, 192 hours before - Departed: STC, ST. CLOUD, MN - Destination: PKD - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PKD, Park Rapids, runway 31, 5,498 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,730 total, 285 in this make and model, 530 as pilot in command, 148 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dawn - Wind: 190° at 8 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast - Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PKD ## 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 19961206037509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961206037509A), Dec 6, 1996: Beech E55, Park Rapids, MN, Substantial damage. Executed local approach then stalled 40FT up over runway. Hit left wing first. Airframe was iced up. Misjudgement. (-23) on December 6, 1996, this aircraft… 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.