# NTSB CHI97LA224: Beech B-23, N9120T, Watertown, WI, July 24, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 1997, 17:04 local (22:04 UTC) - Place: Watertown, WI - Coordinates: 43.190357, -88.719322 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1904&lon=-88.7193&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10640 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10640/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA224 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power due to undetermined reason(s). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - residential area - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing ## Analysis During the pilot's second touch-and-go after maintenance was performed on the left wing, a total power loss occurred. Flight and engine control continuity checks were normal. The fuel selector was on the right tank for the duration of the flight according to the pilot. During the maintenance of the left wing, the pilot had drained and saved the fuel, and put it back into the airplane prior to the flight. ## Factual narrative On July 24, 1997, at 1704 central daylight time (cdt), a Beech B- 23, N9120T, was destroyed after impacting a commercial building during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power on initial climb out. The private pilot reported serious injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed Watertown Municipal Airport, Watertown, Wisconsin, at 1700 cdt, with the intended destination of Watertown, Wisconsin. According to the pilot's written statement he was picking up his airplane after maintenance and was attempting to return home. The pilot said the airplane was in maintenance because he had damaged the left wing last winter when he ran off the end of his private airstrip and "...bumped a piece of equipment." The pilot wanted to conduct two touch and go's before leaving the terminal area. In a telephone conversation with the pilot, he said he flew one successful touch and go and had stated "...engine seemed fine." The pilot stated the fuel selector was on the right tank. Both fuel tanks were full. The pilot does not recall what happened during the second touch and go. He stated he has lost his memory of the event. Witnesses stated that the airplane's engine appeared not to be running and that the airplane banked steeply to the left followed by the steep bank to the right before they lost sight of it. They said that fuel was observed running out of the right fuel tank at the accident site. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector represented the NTSB during the on-scene investigation. The Inspector's visual inspection did not reveal any mechanical problems that would have resulted in a total power loss. The investigation indicates the engine was not running at the time of impact. Flight and engine control continuity checks were normal. Both fuel tanks contained sufficient fuel, however, the right tank drained due to impact damage and a good sample could not be obtained. The fuel selector was on the right tank. The accident site was located one-half mile north east of the airport, on a line extending from between runway 05/23 and its parallel taxiway on the north side. The wreckage lay in a one-acre field between a two story industrial building on the west. On the south side was a one-story storage building and some trees approximately 100 feet tall. The north side is bordered by high tension power lines approximately 70 feet high. A mechanic of Wisconsin Aviation stated that the left wing was replaced and the airplane was painted prior to the flight. He further stated that the pilot had drained and saved the fuel, and put it back into the airplane prior to the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9120T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9120T-1999-08-31), registration cancelled 1999-08-31, S/N M-1145 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech B-23 - Registry model: [Beech B23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b23) (registry code 1151240) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M-1145 - Airframe hours: 1875 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A2GL 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Erwin F. Domine - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 24, 1997, 0 hours before - Departed: RYV - Destination: RYV - Airport: RYV, Watertown Municipal, runway 23, 4,430 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 250 total, 10 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RYV, 1 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 19970724019609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970724019609A), Jul 24, 1997: Beech B23, Watertown, WI, Destroyed. Aircraft on approach to runway, engine quit landed in a vacant lot. Right wing hit building. Came to rest in lot. (-23) on July 24, 1997, at 242204Z, a… 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.