FTW03LA065

NTSB accident investigation · Beech BE-35 · Denver City, TX · December 21, 2002

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
December 21, 2002, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
Place
Denver City, TX
Injuries
3 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N9096QBeech BE-35
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 2, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Flight Standards District Office (SW13)
FAA report
20021221033879A
Case key
56243

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 inadequate compensation for the prevailing wind conditions. A contributing factor was the crosswind.

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 - on ground/waterGo-around (vfr)
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Weather condition - crosswindFactor

Analysis

The pilot lost control of the aircraft, while attempting to land on Runway 22. The 686-hour pilot reported that upon landing on Runway 22, and while correcting for a crosswind after touchdown, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, and the aircraft departed the runway to the left after a ground roll of approximately 1,400 feet and struck an embankment resulting in structural damage to the airframe. The reported weather conditions at the time of the accident were; wind from 250 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 22 knots.

Factual narrative

On December 21, 2002, at approximately 1500 central standard time, a Beech BE-35 airplane, N9096Q, registered to and operated by private individuals, was substantially damaged during a loss of control while landing on Runway 22 at the Denver City Airport (E57), near Denver City, Texas. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from La Porte, Texas, and its intended destination was Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The 686-hour pilot reported to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, that shortly after departure, a passenger became "air sick", so the pilot elected to land at the Denver City Airport. Upon landing on Runway 22, and while correcting for a crosswind after touchdown, the pilot initiated a go-around. The pilot lost control of the aircraft, and the aircraft departed the runway to the left after a ground roll of approximately 1,400 feet and struck an embankment resulting in structural damage to the airframe.

Despite several attempts, the pilot failed to return the completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2).

At the time of the accident, the winds were reported from 250 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 22 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, clear sky, temperature at 18 degrees Celsius, dewpoint 10 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.91 inches Mercury. The density altitude was calculated by the Investigator-In-Charge at 4,781 feet.

Aircraft

Registration
N9096Q
Reported as
Beech BE-35
Category
Airplane
Serial number
D-9206
Airframe hours
5,010
Engine
Continental IO-520-BA, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Jonathan B. Clark
Registered owner
R. Zigurds Vitols
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
T41 · La Porte, TX
Destination
ABQ · Albuquerque, NM
Airport
E57 · Denver City Airport, runway 22, 5,780 × 50 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
49
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Flight hours
686 total · 18 in this make and model · 12 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
250° at 22 knots, gusting 17
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
64 °F, dew point 50 °F
Altimeter
29.90 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 1

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