# NTSB GAA19CA096: Beech 36, N6650M, Hartford, WI, December 12, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 11, 2018, 18:00 local (Dec 12, 2018, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Hartford, WI - Coordinates: 43.330276, -88.32611 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3303&lon=-88.3261&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-IFR final approach: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98771 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98771/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98771 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA096 ## Probable cause The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain during landing in icing conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A36, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Beech A36, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-IFR final approach: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210); cases with it: [Beech A36, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md) - [Approach-IFR final approach: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech A36, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach-IFR final approach: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Beech A36, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach-IFR final approach: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech A36, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151604), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot in the retractable-landing gear-equipped airplane reported that, during an instrument flight rules night flight, he initiated an approach in instrument meteorological conditions. During the approach, he saw that rime ice had accumulated on the left wing. He continued the approach, extended the landing gear, and then configured the flaps for landing. The pilot attempted to level off at 1,620 ft, although the minimum descent altitude was 1,600 ft, but the airplane stalled. He applied forward pressure on the yoke to lower the nose and applied full throttle. He recalled that the airplane was extremely slow to respond and that it was "flying on the ragged edge of stall." The airplane exited the clouds, and he could see the airport, but the airplane impacted a field about 2.4 nautical miles short of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot in the retractable landing gear-equipped airplane reported that during an instrument flight rules, night flight, he initiated an approach in instrument meteorological conditions. During the approach, he saw that rime ice had accumulated on the left wing. He continued the approach and extended the landing gear, and then configured the flaps for landing. The pilot attempted to level off at 1,620ft although the minimum descent altitude was 1,600ft, but the airplane stalled. He applied forward pressure on the yoke to lower the nose and applied full throttle. He recalled that the airplane was extremely slow to respond and, "flying on the ragged edge of stall." The airplane exited the clouds and he could see the airport, but the airplane impacted terrain in a field about 2.4 nautical miles short of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The manufacturer pilot operating handbook indicates on page 2-1, per the limitations section: WARNING FLIGHT IN ICING CONDITIONS IS PROHIBITED The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6650M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6650M-2019-06-21), registration cancelled 2019-06-21, S/N E-1518, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 36 (A36) - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-1518 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 3545 - Engines: Continental IO-550-B112B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hangar50 Llc - Registered owner: Hangar50 Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 7, 2018 - Departed: AZO, Kalamazoo, MS - Destination: HXF, Hartford, WI - Flight plan: VFR/IFR - Airport: HXF, Hartford Muni, runway 29, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 22, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,158 total, 97 in this make and model, 2,102 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 80° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KETB, 10 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 20181211023439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181211023439A), Dec 11, 2018: Beech A36, Hartford, WI, Substantial damage. On December 12, 2018 N6650M, departed kalamazoo mi (kazo) for a flight to Hartford WI (khxf)with a single pilot on board. The aircraft crashed in a field… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98771. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473440&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 204 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473441&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.PDF 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.