- 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.
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.