# NTSB FTW94LA263: Beech B36TC, N6368C, Gunnison, CO, August 6, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 6, 1994, 15:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place: Gunnison, CO
- Coordinates: 38.54087, -106.919258 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5409&lon=-106.9193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19134
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA263
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19134/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA263

## Probable cause

AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS WERE A PREMATURE LIFT OFF AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

A WITNESS SAID THE AIRPLANE WAS 'LOADED PRETTY FULL,' AND USED 'PLENTY OF RUNWAY' FOR THE TAKEOFF ROLL. AS SOON AS THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF, HOWEVER, THE TAIL 'DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY' AND THE AIRPLANE 'BEGAN TO OSCILLATE LEFT AND RIGHT' BEFORE STRIKING THE GROUND. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS A COMPUTED 10,254 FEET MSL.

## Factual narrative

On August 6, 1994, approximately 1520 mountain daylight time, a Beech B36TC, N6368C, was destroyed when it impacted terrain during takeoff at Gunnison, Colorado.  The private pilot and the commercial pilot-rated passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

One witness said the airplane was "loaded pretty full," and used "plenty of runway" for the takeoff roll.  As soon as it lifted off, however, the tail "dropped significantly" and the airplane "began to oscillate left and right" before striking the ground.  Another witness observed the airplane after lift off and corroborated the first witness' observations.

The following is based on the pilot/operator report.  The pilot sensed something was wrong as the airplane lifted off the ground. She thought the engine may have lost power as the airplane began to lose ground effect.  The airplane yawed left, then right, then left again, and the right wing contacted the runway.

Density altitude was a computed 10,254 feet above mean sea level.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6368C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6368C), registered now, S/N EA285 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B36TC
- Registry model: [Beech B36TC](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b36tc) (registry code 1151609) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: EA-285
- Airframe hours: 1508
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-UB 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Taylor, F. Jay & Linda Lou K.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 28, 1993, 56 hours before
- Destination: RSN, RUSTON, LA
- Airport: GUC, Gunnison County, runway 6, 9,402 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,398 total, 829 in this make and model, 1,178 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GUC

## 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 19940806020519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940806020519A), Aug 6, 1994: Beech B36TC, Gunnison, CO, Destroyed. Heavily loaded. Long takeoff roll tail dropped on liftoff. Oscillated and impacted. Density altitude 10000FT.

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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