# NTSB FTW98LA390: Beech E35, N7344B, Fort Worth, TX, August 15, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 15, 1998, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Fort Worth, TX - Coordinates: 32.979751, -97.310577 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9798&lon=-97.3106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43906 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA390 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43906/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA390 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff initial climb. A factor was the pilot lifting off the aircraft prematurely. ## 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 - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - fence - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The private pilot lost control of the airplane after takeoff. The pilot stated that shortly after takeoff he heard the stall warning horn so he lowered the nose to keep from stalling. When he lowered the nose he noticed that the airplane drifted to the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the left wing impacted a fence then the ground. ## Factual narrative On August 15,1998, at 1030 central daylight time, a Beech E35 airplane, N7344B, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged during a loss of control on takeoff from Luck Field, near Fort Worth, Texas. The private pilot and his three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for Rockport, Texas. During a telephone interview conducted by the investigator-in-charge, the 220 hour pilot reported that he "was in a hurry to get to Rockport, Texas, because his friend (one of the passengers) was late for a meeting." The pilot added that during his takeoff from runway 34 he "lifted the nose too early on the takeoff roll." He heard the stall warning horn shortly after liftoff and lowered the nose to recover from the imminent stall. When he lowered the nose of the airplane, he noticed that the aircraft had drifted to the left side of the runway. Subsequently, the left wing impacted a fence and then the ground. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that the nose and right main landing gear collapsed, and both the right and left wing spars were bent. The pilot reported that the wind was from 090 degrees at 5 knots at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7344B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7344B), registered now, S/N D-3807, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech E35 - Registry model: [Beech E35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e35) (registry code 1151512) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental E225 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (registry code 17015, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-3807 - Airframe hours: 7700 - Engines: Continental E-225-8 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Nick Cojocaru - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, March 31, 1998 - Departed: F71 - Destination: RKP, ROCKPORT, TX - Airport: F71, Luck Field, runway 34, 3,500 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 220 total, 150 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 99 °F ## 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 19980815044039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980815044039A), Aug 15, 1998: Beech E35, Ft Worth, TX, Substantial damage. (.4) The private pilot lost control of the airplane after takeoff. The pilot stated that shortly after takeoff he heard the stall warning horn so he lowered… 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.