FTW95LA342

NTSB accident investigation · Beech 19 · Lago Vista, TX · August 14, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 14, 1995, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC)
Place
Lago Vista, TX
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N1946LBeech 19
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 30, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950814023969A
Case key
19537

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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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.

Loss of engine powerTakeoff - initial climb
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
Forced landingEmergency landing after takeoff
OverrunEmergency landing after takeoff
On ground/water collision with objectEmergency landing after takeoff
Object - tree(s)

Analysis

The pilot reported that during the initial takeoff climb, the engine missed or hesitated a couple of times, followed seconds later, by a partial loss of engine power. The airplane touched down past the departure end of the 3,804 foot runway, impacted a tree, crossed a road and came to rest against dense bushes and trees. Post accident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have prevented normal engine operation. The reason for the loss of power could not be determined.

Factual narrative

On August 14, 1995, at 1215 central daylight time, a Beech BE19, N1946L, was substantially damaged upon collision with trees during a forced landing near Lago Vista, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal local flight for which a flight plan was not filed.

According to the pilot, everything was "normal" during acceleration, lift off, and initial takeoff climb, while departing from Runway 15 at the Rusty Allen Airport, near Lago Vista, Texas. The pilot added that, at approximately 75 to 100 feet AGL, the engine "missed or hesitated" a couple of times. Within a couple of seconds, the engine tachometer read within 1,500 to 1,700 RPM and the engine lost partial power.

The airplane, with its landing gear extended, touched down past the departure end of the 3,804 foot runway. The airplane impacted a juniper tree, crossed a road running perpendicular to the runway, and came to rest against dense bushes and trees.

Both wings sustained structural damage, the engine mount was bent, all three landing gears collapsed, and the empennage was bent to the left aft of the cabin. One propeller blade was found undamaged.

Post-accident examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, and a representative from the powerplant manufacturer (report enclosed), did not disclose any anomalies that would have prevented normal engine operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N1946L
Reported as
Beech 19
Category
Airplane
Serial number
MB798
Airframe hours
5,300
Engine
Lycoming O-320-E3D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Carl Vernon & Bruce Hallock
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
5R3
Destination
T98 · San Marcos, TX
Airport
5R3 · Rusty Allen, runway 15, 3,804 × 50 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
33
Certificates
Airline transport, Flight engineer, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
8,277 total · 12 in this make and model · 3,706 as pilot in command · 165 in the last 90 days · 57 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
160° at 9 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
88 °F, dew point 73 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
AUS, 18 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.