# NTSB CHI98LA276: Beech F33A, N350NW, Delavan, WI, July 25, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 25, 1998, 14:35 local (19:35 UTC) - Place: Delavan, WI - Coordinates: 42.620578, -88.629402 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6206&lon=-88.6294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 4 uninjured; on the ground: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43103 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA276 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43103/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA276 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff roll. Factors contributing to this accident were the pilot's inadequate preflight, his operation of an airplane with a known deficiency, low air pressure on both main tires, the snow fence, and the corn. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor) - landing gear,tire - low pressure (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - fence (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot added full power and began his takeoff roll. Within 150 feet of where the airplane began its roll, the airplane 'veered sharply to the left, although full right rudder was applied.' The pilot said that he had no steering control. A witness observed the airplane roll forward normally for about two to three seconds, then the nose started rotating upward. Immediately, the airplane veered sharply left and continued off of the runway and on to the grass. The airplane's engine was at full power until the ground impact occurred. Prior to the accident, when the airplane was being taxied to the runway, another witness flagged down the pilot and informed him that the airplane's left tire 'appeared to be low on air.' The witness offered to assist the pilot with inflating the tire, but the pilot elected to taxi to the runway instead. Examination of the airplane revealed the left main landing gear tire pressure at 22 psi. The right main landing gear tire pressure was 26 psi. The Beech F33A Pilot Operating Handbook states that normal tire pressure for the main landing gear tires should be in a range of 33 to 40 psi. ## Factual narrative On July 25, 1998, at 1435 central daylight time (cdt), a Beech F33A, N350NW, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when on takeoff roll at Lake Lawn Airport, Delavan, Wisconsin, the airplane departed the runway and ran through a snow fence before coming to rest in a corn field. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. There was no flight plan on file. The pilot and three passengers on board the airplane reported no injuries. An individual near the snow fence sustained minor injuries as he attempted to get away from the approaching airplane. The cross- country flight was en route to Lansing, Illinois. In his written statement, the pilot said that he taxied to the center of runway 36 at Lake Lawn Airport after completing "full checkout procedures." The pilot added full power and began his takeoff roll. Within 150 feet of where the airplane began its roll, the airplane "veered sharply to the left, although full right rudder was applied." The pilot said that he had no steering control. Prior to the accident, when the airplane was taxiing to the runway, a witness flagged down the pilot to stop and informed him that his left tire "appeared to be low on air." The witness offered to find an air bottle to inflate the tire, and suggested the pilot pull off into the parking area. The pilot taxied on and did not stop. Another witness observed the airplane from approximately 800 feet away. The witness said that the pilot applied full power while holding the brakes. When the brakes were released, the airplane rolled forward normally for about two to three seconds, and then the nose started rotating upward. Immediately, the airplane veered sharply left and continued off of the runway and on to the grass. The airplane's engine was at full power until the ground impact occurred. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The airplane rested upright in a cornfield approximately 136 feet west of runway 36 at Lake Lawn Airport. The airplane was canted nose down approximately 25 degrees and was oriented on a 315 degree magnetic heading. The nose gear strut and tire were bent aft and broken off. The lower engine cowling and bottom forward fuselage were crushed upward and aft. The bottom portion of the firewall was bent aft. The top half of the firewall was buckled forward. The propeller showed torsional bending, chordwise scratches and tip curling. The remainder of the airplane was undamaged. Flight control continuity was confirmed. The airplane's left main landing gear tire was found inflated to 22 pounds per square inch (psi). The right main landing gear tire was inflated to 26 psi. Examination of the engine, brakes, nose wheel steering, and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. The Beech F33A Pilot Operating Handbook states that normal tire pressure for the main landing gear tires should be in a range of 33 to 40 psi. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N350NW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N350NW), registered now, S/N CE-753, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech F33A - Registry model: [Beech F33A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f33a) (registry code 1151425) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CE-753 - Airframe hours: 1991 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Norman M. Wilton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 23, 1998, 30 hours before - Departed: C59 - Destination: IGQ, LANSING, IL - Airport: C59, Lakelawn Airport, runway 36, 4,423 × 80 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,861 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 6 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: JVL, 21 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 19980725017649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980725017649A), Jul 25, 1998: Beech F33A, Delavan, WI, Substantial damage. Acft veered left off the rwy through a fence and up a hill acft came to rest in a field with its nose gear broken off. (-23) on July 25, 1998, at 1430 CDT a… ## Other investigations on N350NW (2) 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. - [NTSB ERA10LA349](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA349), Jul 6, 2010: Beech F33A (N350NW), Mooresville, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. - [NTSB CHI02LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA071), Jan 26, 2002: Beech F33A (N350NW), Bloomington, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing which resulted in a hard contact with the runway. Factors associated with the accident were the improper flare and the crosswind condition. 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.