# NTSB FTW95LA059: Beech V35, N4855J, Village Mills, TX, December 5, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 5, 1994, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Village Mills, TX - Coordinates: 30.510858, -94.390716 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5109&lon=-94.3907&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 18, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19316 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19316/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA059 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR TAKEOFF. A FACTOR WAS THE ROUGH CONDITION OF THE GRASS RUNWAY. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - tree(s) ## Analysis A PRIVATE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF FROM A PRIVATE ROUGH GRASS AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE HIT A ROUGH SPOT AND VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE NOSE GEAR THEN IMPACTED A LARGE GRASS COVERED HOLE AND THE AIRCRAFT ROTATED ABOUT ITS VERTICAL AXIS CAUSING THE LEFT WING TO HIT A TREE. A FIRE STARTED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. ## Factual narrative On December 5, 1994, approximately 1600 central standard time, a Beech V35, N4855J, was destroyed during takeoff from Wildwood Airstrip at Village Mills, Texas. The private pilot was not injured and his pilot rated passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. During the interview, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, the pilot reported that he had landed at this airstrip 20 times before without difficulty. He knew that the rains had damaged the airstrip and that the drainage was worse on the west (right) side of the runway; therefore, he chose a take off ground roll "as far left as possible." The "hole" he hit with his aircraft was about 2 feet deep and was the result of rain "washing out" an area around a drain pipe. It was covered with grass and he did not see it during landing. The take off roll started normally, the pilot reported. He veered slightly left to utilize the better (smoother) part of the airstrip. The "left main wheel apparently hit a dip in the runway, which caused the craft to veer more to the left than was intended". The nose gear hit the grass covered hole referred to above, causing the aircraft to rotate about its vertical axis and the left wing to hit a tree subsequently shearing off the outer 6 feet of the wing. A fire started at that separation point consequently destroying the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4855J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4855J-1997-03-13), registration cancelled 1997-03-13, S/N D8347 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH V35 - Registry model: [Beech V35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35) (registry code 1151538) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-8347 - Airframe hours: 5700 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-B 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Smith, James R. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1994, 25 hours before - Destination: ORG, ORANGE, TX - Airport: NONE, Wildwood Air Strip, runway 18, 3,200 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 240 total, 140 in this make and model, 150 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 6 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BPT, 25 nm away ## 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 19941205040489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941205040489A), Dec 5, 1994: Beech V35, Village Mills, TX, Destroyed. Struck rough spot taking off on private grass strip. Veered into trees. Impact to be offleft wing. Aircraft burned. 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.