# NTSB FTW97LA025: Beech S35, N881T, Jefferson, TX, October 24, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 24, 1996, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Jefferson, TX - Coordinates: 32.760204, -94.339523 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7602&lon=-94.3395&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20101 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20101/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA025 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point, and his failure to maintain clearance from the fence. A factor was the fence post. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - object - fence post (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During the arrival approach at the private sod/grass airport, the field was circled twice in order to survey the landing area. The pilot observed that the entire grass field including the runway had been mowed and the runway was not marked. Trees were observed at the approach end of the runway and an upslope of 25 degrees for the landing threshold was noted. During the landing roll left of the center line of the sod/grass runway, the left wing struck a fence and a steel corner post and the wing separated from the airplane. The pilot reported that he did not see the fence parallel to runway 25 (3,000 feet long and 100 feet wide). ## Factual narrative On October 24, 1996, at 1330 central daylight time, a Beech S35, N881T, registered to and operated by a private owner, under Title 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage during the landing near Jefferson, Texas. The private pilot was not injured and the sole passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from Wichita Falls, Texas, at 1210. During telephone interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, and on the Pilot/Operator report, the pilot reported the following information. The flight originally departed Miami, Texas, with an en route stop at Wichita Falls where the passenger boarded the airplane. During the arrival approach at the private Manning Field Airport, the field was circled twice in order to survey the landing area. The pilot observed that the entire grass field including the runway had been mowed and the runway was not marked. Trees were observed at the approach end of the runway and an upslope of 25 degrees for the landing threshold was noted. The pilot stated that he did not see the fence parallel to runway 25 (3,000 feet long and 100 feet wide). During the landing roll, to the left of the center line of the sod/grass runway, the left wing struck the fence and a steel corner post and the wing separated from the airplane. Structural damage was also reported for the nose gear and the propeller. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N881T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N881T-1997-06-23), registration cancelled 1997-06-23, S/N D7764 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech S35 - Registry model: [Beech S35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35) (registry code 1151532) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7764 - Airframe hours: 3200 - Engines: Continental IO-520-BA2 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Willis N. Clark - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1996, 10 hours before - Departed: T47, WICHITA FALLS, TX - Destination: 6F7 - Airport: 6F7, Manning Field, runway 25, 3,600 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 88; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 10 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GGG, 30 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 19961024046189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961024046189A), Oct 24, 1996: Beech S35, Jefferson, TX, No damage. (-23) Pilot struck fence post with left wing on touch-down. Pilot stated that he did not see fence post before landing. Pilot did state he over flew the field… 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.