# NTSB ERA15CA176: Beech V35B, N9172Q, Wetumpka, AL, April 4, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 3, 2015, 20:15 local (Apr 4, 2015, 01:15 UTC)
- Place: Wetumpka, AL
- Coordinates: 32.527221, -86.331108 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5272&lon=-86.3311&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
- Status: Completed, report August 11, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90988
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA176
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90988/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90988
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA176

## Probable cause

The pilot's use of an incorrect radio frequency when attempting to turn on the runway lights, resulting is an attempt to land the airplane while aligned with airport hangar lights.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Beech V35B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Beech V35B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/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 V35B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=1151548), [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 V35B, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was landing his airplane at night and mistook the hangar lights for runway lights. The airplane struck trees on the final approach, then the ground before coming to rest, inverted. The pilot said that, in retrospect, he was on the incorrect radio frequency when he attempted to turn on the pilot-activated runway lights. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage and reported that the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane at the time of the accident. The runway lights operated normally after the accident.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he was landing his airplane at night and mistook the hangar lights for runway lights. The airplane struck trees on the final approach, then the ground before coming to rest, inverted. The pilot said that, in retrospect, he was on the incorrect radio frequency when he attempted to turn on the pilot-activated runway lights. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage and reported that the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane at the time of the accident. The runway lights operated normally after the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9172Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9172Q-2018-04-18), registration cancelled 2018-04-18, S/N D-9250, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH V35B
- Registry model: [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b) (registry code 1151548) (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-9250
- Year built: 1970
- Airframe hours: 6137
- Engines: Continental IO-520 Series 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Power Daniel N
- Registered owner: Power Daniel N
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2014
- Departed: GLS, Galveston, TX
- Destination: 08A, Wetumpka, AL
- Airport: 08A, Wetumpka Muni, runway 27, 3,011 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 77; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 6, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,326 total, 1,909 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 200° at 9 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MGM, 9 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 20150404004689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150404004689A), Apr 4, 2015: Beech V35B, AL, Destroyed. Aircraft was returning from (gls) to home field (08A) and attempting to land on runway 27 at night, at an uncontrolled airport. Pilot stated he made 3 attempts…

## Docket (14 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90988. 10.3 MB in all.

- NTSB Memorandum of Record #2 (item 1, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429783&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Memorandum%20of%20Record%20%232%20-Master.PDF
- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 378 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429784&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429785&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- NTSB Memo for Record #1 – Power Interview (item 4, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429786&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Memo%20for%20Record%20%231%20%E2%80%93%20Power%20Interview-Master.PDF
- Correspondence Between FAA and Pilot (item 5, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429787&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20Between%20FAA%20and%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF
- Excerpts - Maintenance Logbooks (item 6, .PDF, 432 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429788&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20-%20Maintenance%20Logbooks-Redacted.PDF
- Wreckage Site Diagram Provided by FAA (item 7, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429789&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Wreckage%20Site%20Diagram%20Provided%20by%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 – Trees Contacted by Aircraft (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429790&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Trees%20Contacted%20by%20Aircraft%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429791&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 – Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 10, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429792&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 4 – Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 11, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429793&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20%E2%80%93%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 5 – Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 12, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429794&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20%E2%80%93%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 6 – Engine Compartment and Propeller (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 13, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429795&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206%20%E2%80%93%20Engine%20Compartment%20and%20Propeller%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 7 – Propeller Blade (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 14, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429796&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207%20%E2%80%93%20Propeller%20Blade%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%20-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.

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