# NTSB FTW94LA016: Beech A36, N6198A, Tomball, TX, October 13, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 12, 1993, 20:22 local (Oct 13, 1993, 01:22 UTC) - Place: Tomball, TX - Coordinates: 30.090204, -95.609634 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0902&lon=-95.6096&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18956 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA016 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18956/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA016 ## Probable cause WAS THE PILOT'S DISREGARD FOR AND CONTINUED DESCENT BELOW MDA AND HIS DELAY IN EXECUTING A GO AROUND. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - weather condition - obscuration - weather condition - fog - object - tree(s) - minimum descent altitude - disregarded, pilot in command (cause) - descent - continued, pilot in command (cause) - missed approach - delayed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES DURING AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH. THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD DESCENDED TO MINIMUMS (500 FEET MSL) AND ENGAGED THE AUTOPILOT IN THE ALTITUDE HOLD MODE. HE STATED THAT AFTER LOOKING OUT FOR THE RUNWAY, HE NOTICED THE AIRPLANE HAD DESCENDED BELOW 300 FEET MSL AND DESCENDED ANOTHER 150 FEET BEFORE IT STARTED CLIMBING AFTER HE INITIATED A GO AROUND. AIRPORT ELEVATION WAS 152 FEET. ATC TAPES INDICATED THE PILOT WAS GIVEN AN ALTITUDE ALERT AND THAT 15 SECONDS LATER HE STATED THAT HE WAS GOING AROUND. THE PILOT STATED HE THOUGHT HE ENCOUNTERED WINDSHEAR; HOWEVER, THE WINDS WERE 120 AT 7 KNOTS WITH NO GUSTS AND THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF WINDSHEAR IN THE AREA. THE AIRPLANE ULTIMATELY LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT AT A NEARBY VFR AIRPORT. ## Factual narrative On October 12, 1993, approximately 2022 central daylight time, a Beech A36, N6198A, was substantially damaged during approach to the David Wayne Hooks Airport in Tomball, Texas. The airplane, owned and operated by an instrument rated private pilot, was on a personal cross country flight. An IFR flight plan was filed and in effect and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. Neither the pilot nor the one passenger were injured. The pilot had air filed while en route from Alice, Texas, to the Houston area. He was cleared for the localizer/DME runway 17R approach. He stated that he descended to minimum descent altitude (500 feet MSL) and engaged the altitude hold on the autopilot. He further stated that he then looked out to spot the airport and when he looked back in the cockpit, he noticed that the airplane was descending below 300 feet MSL. He said that at that point, he initiated a go around. He stated that the descent continued for another 150 feet before the airplane started to climb. The airport elevation was 152 feet. The pilot further stated that he thought he had encountered windshear and did not realize it until he scanned the instruments. Winds at the approach airport were reported as being from 120 degrees at 7 knots with no gusts and there were no other reports of windshear in the area. According to the air traffic control tape transcripts, the local controller issued the pilot a low altitude alert at 2022:12, and at 2022:27, the pilot stated "nine eight alpha going back up." At 2022:48, the pilot contacted the local controller and stated "Well we got a minor problem I hit something with my landing gear I need to get to a clean airport so I can belly this thing in." After being handed off to approach control, the pilot advised the controller that the gear was functional and requested vectors to a VFR airport. The flight ultimately landed without further incident at Houston's West Side Airport. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the leading edges of the wings and spars. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6198A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6198A), registered now, S/N E-1976, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-1976 - Airframe hours: 1665 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hamilton, Jerry R. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 18, 1992, 118 hours before - Departed: ALI, ALICE, TX - Destination: DWH - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 970 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 120° at 7 knots - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DWH ## 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 19931012040599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931012040599A), Oct 12, 1993: Beech A36, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Descended below mda on IFR approached. Warned by tower pulled up after hitting ground. Diverted to axh landed ok. 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.