# NTSB ERA12CA080: Beech V35, N9569Q, Lusby, MD, November 20, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 20, 2011, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Lusby, MD - Coordinates: 38.356666, -76.403053 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3567&lon=-76.4031&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82350 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82350/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82350 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA080 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain clearance from trees during a night approach. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech V35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1151538), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Beech V35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1151538), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Beech V35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=1151538), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech V35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=1151538), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech V35, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151538), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that, during the night flight, he made an initial pass to locate the airfield and to turn on the runway lights via the radio. He rejected the first approach when he lost sight of the landing area. He visually reacquired the field and began his second approach. During the second approach, he saw the runway lights from the approach end to the departure end and the windsock to the left of the runway. He recalled that he felt that the airplane was slightly low. He stated that, while he was on what he believed was short final, trees appeared in front of the windscreen, and trees limbs and branches began to hit the airplane. The airplane began to severely vibrate and shimmy, so the pilot reduced power and pushed the yoke forward to force the airplane onto the ground. The airplane collided with the ground, and the airframe was substantially damaged. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that during a night flight he made an initial pass to locate the airfield and turn on the runway lights via radio. The first approach was aborted when he lost sight of the landing area. He visually re-acquired the field and began his second approach. During the second approach, he saw the runway lights from the approach end to the departure end and the wind sock to the left of the runway. He recalled that he felt slightly low during the approach. On what he believed was short final, he stated that trees appeared in front of the windscreen. Trees limbs and branches began to hit the airplane. The airplane began to severely vibrate and shimmy, so the pilot reduced power and pushed the yoke forward to force the airplane on the ground. The airplane collided with the ground and the airframe was substantially damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9569Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9569Q-2018-01-10), registration cancelled 2018-01-10, S/N D-8204, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH V35 - Registry model: [Beech V35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35) (registry code 1151538) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-8204 - Airframe hours: 4277 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hefron William K - Registered owner: Hefron William K - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2011 - Departed: IGQ, Lansing, IL - Destination: MD50, Lusby, MD - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MD50, Chesapeake Ranch Airport, runway 13, 2,500 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 14, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 2,149 total, 23 in this make and model, 2,042 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 100° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: NHK, 3 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 20111120028449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111120028449A), Nov 20, 2011: Beech V35, Lusby, MD, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted to land at a private paved airstrip at night. Turned base at mid-field and impacted top of trees at approximately 90' AGL. Pilot set down at a… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82350. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 766 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359917&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement-Airport manager (item 2, .PDF, 506 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359919&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Airport%20manager-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1-courtesy of FAA- Front view rightside of airplane (item 3, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359922&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-courtesy%20of%20FAA-%20Front%20view%20rightside%20of%20airplane-Master.PDF - Photo 2-courtesy of FAA-Leftside view of airplane (item 4, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359929&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-courtesy%20of%20FAA-Leftside%20view%20of%20airplane-Master.PDF 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.