- Date
- December 27, 1997, 10:32 local (15:32 UTC)
- Place
- Troy, MI
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N512WMBeech 35-B33
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 4, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19971227039449A
- Case key
- 10810
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
loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). Factors associated with the accident were: the lack of a suitable forced landing site, and the embankment (dirt bank), which the airplane contacted.
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.
Analysis
The pilot reported that after liftoff, at an altitude of 200 to 300 feet, the engine sputtered and began to lose power. He lowered the nose to prevent a stall and turned left '...to an area and a point where I could put the plane down at.' The airplane touched down, slid into an embankment, and was destroyed by fire. The pilot stated he had the fuel selector positioned on the left fuel tank when he performed the engine run-up and taxi. He then switched the selector to the right tank just before takeoff.
Factual narrative
On December 27, 1997, at 1032 eastern standard time, a Beech 35- 33B, N512WM, operated by a commercial instrument pilot collided with the terrain during initial takeoff climb following departure from the Troy-Oakland Airport, Troy, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed, but had not been opened. The pilot received minor injuries. One passenger was seriously injured and another passenger was not injured. The airplane was destroyed by impact and post crash fire.
The pilot reported he started the airplane and had an "extended time" to let the engine warm up prior to takeoff. He reported that after liftoff at an altitude of 200 to 300 feet, the engine sputtered and began to lose power. He stated he lowered the nose to prevent a stall and veered left "...to an area and a point where I could put the plane down at." He reported the airplane touched down and slid into an embankment. The pilot reported that he and the passengers got out of the airplane as it started to burn. The airplane was then destroyed by fire.
The pilot stated to an Inspector from the FAA Belleville Flight Standards District Office that he had the fuel selector positioned on the left fuel tank when he performed the engine run-up and taxi. He continued to stated that while letting the engine warm up near the end of the runway, the passenger in the right seat began asking questions regarding the fuel system. It was at this time, just prior to takeoff, that he switched the fuel selector to the right fuel tank.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N512WM
- Reported as
- Beech 35-B33
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- CD589
- Airframe hours
- 7,686
- Engine
- Continental IO-540, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- C. Wayne Manning
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 8, 1997 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- 7D2
- Destination
- HTS · Huntington, WV
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- 7D2 · Oakland/Troy
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
- 50
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,515 total · 1,250 in this make and model · 18 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 30 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PTK, 15 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.