- Date
- April 14, 1996, 14:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place
- Albuquerque, NM
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3295CBeech E35
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 22, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960414007189A
- Case key
- 19803
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
a partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's failure to abort the takeoff.
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.
Analysis
During the takeoff roll, the pilot 'noticed a flat spot in the power' as he opened the throttle. He also 'noticed the rpm was 2400 rpm' instead of the expected 2500 rpm; however, he elected to continue the takeoff. During the initial climb after takeoff, 'the aircraft started to settle.' Since there was now 'insufficient remaining runway to attempt to abort,' the pilot turned 90 degrees left intending to land on a dirt road. The airplane touched down beside the road, struck 'a piece of concrete debris,' and came to rest on the road. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
Factual narrative
On April 14, 1996, at 1410 mountain daylight time, a Beech E35, N3295C, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following an engine power loss on takeoff near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, a private owner under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local personal flight was originating from the Coronado Airport at the time of the accident.
The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll on runway 17, he "noticed a flat spot in the power" as he opened the throttle. He verified that the propeller was set "for fine pitch" and "noticed the rpm showed 2400 rpm" instead of the expected 2500 rpm. At an airspeed of 80 mph, the pilot "rotated into a climb." After retracting the landing gear, he "felt the climb cease and the aircraft started to settle." Since there was "insufficient remaining runway to attempt to abort," the pilot turned left intending to land gear-up on an east/west dirt road south of the airport. The airplane touched down south of the road, the left wing struck "a piece of concrete debris which turned the aircraft 90 degrees to the left and caused the aircraft to settle on the road."
A field inspection of the airplane and engine was conducted by FAA personnel. The inspection revealed that the fuselage was distorted. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3295C
- Reported as
- Beech E35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D-3962
- Airframe hours
- 4,674
- Engine
- Continental E-225-8, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Sandy W. Thompson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 20, 1996 · 16 hours before
- Departed
- 4AC
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
- 40
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 680 total · 191 in this make and model · 628 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.