# NTSB DEN83LA047: Beech A36, N6732B, Vernal, UT, January 2, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 2, 1983, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Vernal, UT
- Coordinates: 40.5508, -109.569496 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5508&lon=-109.5695&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16030
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16030/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA047

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff
  - object - fence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT MADE AN EMERGENCY OFF-AIRPORT WHEELS-UP LANDING SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT SAID ALL OF THE PRE-FLIGHT, BEFORE TAKEOFF AND TAKEOFF CHECKS WERE NORMAL. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO LOSE AIRSPEED.ALL CONTROLS WERE CHECKED AS THE NOSE WAS LOWERED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. THE PILOT LATER SAID HE DID NOT CHECK OR DOES NOT REMEMBER WHAT THE FUEL FLOW OR MANIFOLD PRESSURE WERE. NO MENTION WAS MADE OF RPM OR CARBURETOR HEAT AT ANY TIME. SINCE THE AIRSPEED CONTINUED TO FALL THE PILOT LOWERED PARTIAL FLAPS AND LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD IN AN OPEN FIELD. A FENCEWAS PENETRATED DURING THE GROUND SLIDE OF ABOUT 75 YARDS. THE ENGINE RAN FINE ON A POST-ACCIDENT CHECK. NO MALFUNCTIONS COULD BE FOUND. THE PILOT WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT BEFORE TAKEOFF PROCEDURES AND HE SAID HE SET THE MIXTURE AT 1700 RPM. THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS THE MIXTURE SHOULD BE SET, BUT DOES NOT SAY WHAT POWER SETTING TO USE. ACCORDING TO A BEECHCRAFT SPOKESMAN THE MIXTURE SHOULD BE SET AT FULL POWER. THE PLT SAID ALL FROST REMOVED BEFORE TAKEOFF. DENSITY ALT 2911 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6732B (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH A36
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: E1644
- Airframe hours: 732
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BA 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Wings Of Denver, Inc., doing business as 7355 S. Peoria Street
- Registered owner: Stephen M O'Shaughnessy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 17, 1982, 22 hours before
- Departed: VEL, VERNAL, UT
- Destination: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: VEL, Vernal Muni., runway 16, 6,605 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 257 total, 4 in this make and model, 138 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 14 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VEL, 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 19830102002019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830102002019A), Jan 2, 1983: Beech A36, Vernal, UT, Substantial damage. Engine lost on takeoff after gear retraction. Landed gear up. No engine problem. Pilot had overleaned mixture.

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.