# NTSB DEN07LA040: Beech A-36, N1801V, Great Bend, KS, October 10, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 9, 2006, 19:30 local (Oct 10, 2006, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Great Bend, KS - Coordinates: 38.344444, -98.859169 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3444&lon=-98.8592&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 26, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65077 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN07LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65077/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07LA040 ## Probable cause The pilot's spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of aircraft control while changing radio frequencies and abruptly applying control forces in excess of the design limits of the airframe. ## Analysis The pilot stated he was level in cruise flight at 7,000 feet. He said that approximately 30 miles from his destination, he entered the localizer frequency into his GPS (global positioning system). "The airplane entered an unusual attitude. When [aircraft] control [was] regained, [the] HSI (horizon situation indicator) [was] inaccurate. [I] navigated to GBD with ATC assistance." ATC reported the pilot stated he was in instrument conditions, had become disoriented, advised that he was having a lot of trouble, and "needed to control the aircraft." The pilot then requested "vector/navigational assistance." The controller decided to treat the airplane as an emergency and gave him vectors to a nearby airport where visual weather conditions prevailed. The pilot was cleared for a visual approach at the airport . The airplane landed without further incident. An examination of the airplane showed upward bending of the wing spars of both wings. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the airplane's systems did not reveal any anomalies. ## Factual narrative On October 9, 2006, at 1930 central daylight time, a Beech A-36, N1801V, was substantially damaged while in cruise flight near Great Bend, Kansas (GBD). Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal cross-country flight was operating on an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan from Scott City, Kansas, to Hays, Kansas, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot, the sole person on board the airplane, was not injured. The flight originated at 1845. The Kansas City Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZKC ARTCC) reported that at 1921, the pilot stated he was in instrument conditions, had become disoriented, advised that he was having a lot of trouble, and "needed to control the aircraft." The pilot then requested "vector/navigational assistance." The controller decided to treat the airplane as an emergency and gave him vectors to GBD where visual weather conditions prevailed. At 2004, the pilot was cleared for a visual approach at GBD and was instructed to switch to the airport's Unicom frequency. The airplane landed without further incident. The pilot stated he was level in cruise flight at 7,000 feet. He said that approximately 30 miles from his destination, he entered the localizer frequency into his GPS (global positioning system). "The airplane entered an unusual attitude. When [aircraft] control [was] regained, [the] HSI (horizon situation indicator) [was] inaccurate. [I] navigated to GBD with ATC assistance." On December 22, 2006, the pilot informed the Federal Aviation Administration, Flight Standards District Office, Wichita, Kansas, that his airplane had sustained substantial damage during the recovery maneuver. An examination of the airplane showed wrinkling in the upper and lower wing skins at the wing roots and upward bending of the wing spars of both wings. Additionally, there were buckles in the fuselage skin at the wing roots. Further examination showed skin wrinkles in the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the airplane's systems did not reveal any anomalies. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - other - Abrupt maneuver, cruise - remedial action - performed, pilot in command - airspeed(va) - exceeded - wing,spar - bent ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1801V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1801V), registered now, S/N E-1859 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech A-36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-1859 - Airframe hours: 3326 - Engines: Continental IO-550-B5F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Southwind Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2006, 16 hours before - Departed: TQK, Scott City, KS - Destination: HYS, Hays, KS - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 869 total, 373 in this make and model, 869 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 315° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: GBD, 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 20061010027219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061010027219A), Oct 10, 2006: Beech A36, Hays, KS, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 10, 2006, at 2000 CST, the pilot [privacy data omitted] was on an IFR flight from scott city, KS (ktqk) to Hays, Kansas (khys). Conditions… ## Other investigations on N1801V (1) 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 CHI93LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA062), Jan 3, 1993: Beech A36 (N1801V), Milwaukee, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PERFORM AN ABORTED LANDING AND FAILURE TO SELECT A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT ON THE RUNWAY. 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.