DFW05LA139

NTSB accident investigation · Beech A36 · Arcola, TX · May 30, 2005

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 30, 2005, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC)
Place
Arcola, TX
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N2015ABeech A36
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 13, 2005
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20050530009009A
Case key
61587

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall while attempting a go-around. A contributing factor was the quartering tailwind.

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.

Loss of control - in flightGo-around (vfr)
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Weather condition - tailwindFactor
Airspeed - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Stall - inadvertentPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The single-engine airplane stalled and impacted the ground while attempting a go-around maneuver over runway 27, which is 5,000-foot long. The 890-hour private pilot reported that he was on final approach to the runway and started to flare for landing when the airplane began to drift to the left. He stated that he could not correct the drift with flight controls or by adding power. He then raised the landing gear, added full power, and started a go-around, but the airplane "would not climb." The pilot recalled that the airplane continued to drift to the left, the left wing dipped, and hit the ground. A pilot-rated witness reported that he observed the airplane on final in what appeared to be a normal approach to land. He then noticed that the airplane drifted from the centerline to the right, the left wing "dipped," and the "nose pitched up." He heard the engine accelerate and it appeared that the nose was "too high," and the airplane "stalled," The airplane then "winged-over" to the left of the runway, and impacted the ground. Evidence at the accident site, as reported by an FAA inspector, revealed that the airplane had initially impacted the dirt on the left side of the runway, and then slid onto the ramp area. At 1453, the automated weather station at AXH reported wind from 070 degrees at 13 knots, scattered clouds at 2,800 feet, broken clouds at 4,000 feet, and an overcast layer at 5,500 feet, temperature 28 degrees Celsius, dew point 22 degrees Celsius, and barometric pressure 29.75 inches of mercury. The remarks noted a wind shift at 1439.

Factual narrative

On May 30, 2005, approximately 1515 central daylight time, a single-engine Beech A36 airplane, N2015A, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control while attempting a go-around after approach to Runway 27 at the Houston Southwest Airport (AXH), near Houston, Texas. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not file for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from AXH approximately 1300.

The pilot reported that prior to entering the traffic pattern, he received a report from the Unicom reporting that the winds were calm and they were favoring Runway 27. The pilot stated that he executed a normal approach to Runwat 27. He added that as he started to flare for the landing, the airplane began to drift to the left of centerline. He stated that he could not correct the drift with flight controls or by adding power. He then retracted the landing gear, added full power, and initiated a go-around, but the airplane "would not climb." The pilot recalled that the airplane continued to drift to the left, the left wing dipped, and hit the ground.

A pilot-rated witness reported that he observed the airplane on final approach in what appeared to be a normal approach to land. He then noticed that the airplane drifted from the centerline to the right, the left wing "dipped," and the "nose pitched up." He heard the engine accelerate and it appeared that the nose was "too high," and the airplane "stalled," The airplane then "winged-over" to the left of the runway, and impacted the ground.

Evidence at the accident site, as reported by an FAA inspector, revealed that the airplane had initially impacted the dirt on the left side of Runway 27, and then slid onto the south ramp area. Scrape marks on the left wing tip tank, a buckled left wing, and crushed nose section of the fuselage were noted.

At 1453, the automated weather station at AXH reported wind from 070 degrees at 13 knots, scattered clouds at 2,800 feet, broken clouds at 4,000 feet, and an overcast layer at 5,500 feet, temperature 28 degrees Celsius, dew point 22 degrees Celsius, and barometric pressure 29.75 inches of mercury. The remarks noted a wind shift at 1439.

Aircraft

Registration
N2015A
Reported as
Beech A36
Category
Airplane
Serial number
E-1306
Airframe hours
4,745
Engine
Continental IO-520, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Ready Aim Flyer LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · May 1, 2005 · 20 hours before
Departed
AXH · Arcola, TX
Destination
AXH
Airport
AXH · Houston Southwest, runway 27, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

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
Injuries
Serious
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
November 1, 2003
Seat
Left
Flight hours
890 total · 175 in this make and model · 821 as pilot in command · 80 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
70° at 13 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
4,000 ft broken
Temperature
82 °F, dew point 72 °F
Altimeter
29.75 inHg
Observed at
HOU

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.