# NTSB FTW94LA056: Beech 35, N3331V, Crystal Beach, TX, December 26, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 26, 1993, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Crystal Beach, TX - Coordinates: 29.480354, -94.570358 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4804&lon=-94.5704&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18982 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18982/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA056 ## Probable cause WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS WERE A PASSENGER DOOR INADVERTENTLY OPENING IN FLIGHT DUE TO INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING, AND CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - initial climb - door,passenger - open (contributing factor) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - emergency procedure - initiated, pilot in command - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - reason for occurrence undetermined - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - wet ## Analysis THE PASSENGER DOOR INADVERTENTLY OPENED DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB. THE PILOT INITIATED THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND REMAINED IN THE AIRPORT PATTERN FOR A LANDING. THE PILOT SAID THAT A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND DURING THE FINAL APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY IN WET TERRAIN AND DURING THE GROUND ROLL HIT A FENCE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO A POWER LOSS. THE PILOT REPORTED A TEMPERATURE DEWPOINT SPREAD OF 3 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. ## Factual narrative On December 26, 1993, approximately 1230 central standard time a Beech BE35, N3331V, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Crystal Beach, Texas. The private pilot and the three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight. A witness stated to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors that the airplane had departed the private grass airstrip to the south. The witness said that he observed the airplane climbing approximately 800 feet above the ground and then enter the pattern for an approach to the runway. On site examination by the inspectors revealed the airplane landed short of the runway, hit a fence, and came to rest nose down. Examination of the airplane by the inspectors (enclosed statement) indicated damage to the propeller, gear, fuselage, and wing structures. The pilot reported that he "felt like he did not have full power and RPM" during the climb. About 200 feet above the ground, the door inadvertently opened and the pilot decided to return for landing and secure the door. During final approach approximately 300 feet above the ground, the pilot reported a total loss of engine power to the passengers. The pilot reported that he could "only assume the cause of the power loss can be attributed to carburetor ice." The pilot reported a temperature dewpoint spread of 3 degrees Fahrenheit. The Federal Aviation Administration carburetor icing probability chart (copy enclosed) indicates serious icing at glide power. During a telephone interview conducted by the investigator in charge, the pilot said that he had "throttled back during the approach and at 300 feet above the ground as he increased the throttle there was no power increase." He described the engine "as sputtering and coughing." He said the propeller was "turning slightly." A representative of the manufacturer (report enclosed) examined the engine. No anomalies that would have contributed to the power loss were reported. . ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3331V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3331V-2015-05-08), registration cancelled 2015-05-08, S/N D-792, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 35 - Registry model: [Beech 35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35) (registry code 1151502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-792 - Airframe hours: 3265 - Engines: CONTINENTAL E-185-11 185 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Aloof, Pincus - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Provisional (Special) - Airport: XS77, Crystal Beach, runway 18, 2,200 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,274 total, 397 in this make and model, 1,918 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19931226047359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931226047359A), Dec 26, 1993: Beech 35BEECH, Crystal Beach, TX, Substantial damage. Partial power loss on climb. Elected return. Engine quit on final. Landed short. Serious carb icing probability. ## Other investigations on N3331V (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI69D0458](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI69D0458), Dec 18, 1968: Beech B-35 (N3331V), Granite City, IL, substantial damage 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.