# NTSB IAD96LA102: Beech 65, N3870C, Campbellsville, KY, June 30, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 30, 1996, 12:40 local (16:40 UTC) - Place: Campbellsville, KY - Coordinates: 37.340141, -85.339187 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3401&lon=-85.3392&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 3 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28070 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD96LA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28070/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96LA102 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation, his failure to remove the control lock, and his failure to abort the takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - roll/run - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - removal of control/gust lock(s) - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - fence - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis According to an FAA inspector, the airplane '...was unable to get airborne...' during the takeoff roll. He stated that after travelling the full length of the 4,997-foot runway, the airplane ran off the departure end of runway 5 and continued approximately 2,257 feet through an open field, a fence, a corn field and into a depression where it impacted terrain and came to rest. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll he discovered that he had not removed the gust lock from the control column and that his attempts to remove it were unsuccessful. The pilot stated that the aircraft '...went off the end of the runway through a fence and impacted an earthen berm that collapsed the gear [and] bladestrikes that stopped the engines.' ## Factual narrative On June 30, 1996, at 1240 eastern daylight time, a Beech 65, N3870C, was destroyed when it ran off the end of the runway and collided with a fence and terrain during an attempted takeoff from Taylor County Airport (AAS), in Campbellsville, Kentucky. The commercial rated pilot and two of the three passengers received serious injuries. The third passenger sustained no injuries. The airplane was destroyed by impact and postimpact fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, no flight plan was filed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane "...was unable to get airborne..." during the takeoff roll. The FAA Inspector stated that after traveling the full length of the 4997 foot runway, the airplane ran off the departure end of runway 05 and continued approximately 2257 feet through an open field, a fence, a corn field and into a depression where it impacted terrain and came to rest. He reported that the aircraft engines separated from the airframe and the fuselage was destroyed by a post crash fire. The pilot said that while performing pre-takeoff checks he was interrupted by one of the passengers on board the aircraft. He reported, "After the interruption I failed to complete all the pre-takeoff steps [and] gust lock pin was not removed. Power was applied [and] takeoff speed was attained. When I attempted to rotate the A/C [aircraft], I found that the controls would not move. I attempted to remove the pin holding the controls, but was unsuccessful. The A/C [aircraft] went off the end of the runway through a fence and impacted an earthen berm that collapsed the gear [and] bladestrikes that stopped the engines." On scene examination of the accident site and the aircraft wreckage was performed by investigators from the FAA, the Campbellsville Police, the airframe manufacturer, and the aircraft engine manufacturer. According to one report, "No evidence of aircraft deceleration or braking was apparent up to the point of main landing gear collapse at the base of the first hill. Ground scars made by both propellers were found at the point of first ground impact ... Both propeller assemblies were found on the ground where they (impact) separated from the engines at the reduction gear case due to impact overload. Both propellers equally exhibited signs of absorbing high power on impact. Pronounced torsional blade bending, heavy leading edge nicks and gouges and tip damage was noted ... Examination of the pilots control wheel and shaft assembly revealed that the shaft support housing was fractured diagonally across the control lock pin hole location." According to the Owner's Manual (PN 65-001021-33A3), at maximum gross weight (7700 pounds), "Distance required to take- off and climb to 50 ft, flaps up, take-off power. Take-off speed: 95 mph (83kts.) TIAS." Altitude Outside Air Temperature Feet 0 F 25 F 50 F 75 F 100 F Sea Level 1363 1501 1645 1810 1962 2000 1496 1659 1814 1990 2166 According to a representative of the airplane manufacturer, using the Accelerate and Stop Distance chart from the Owner's Manual, "...the accelerate and stop distance ... determined from the chart at a gross weight of 7,700 pounds and under the following conditions: 1. With the Pressure Altitude at Sea Level and Outside Air Temperature at 100 F the Accelerate and Stop Distance computed to be 3630 feet. 2. With the Pressure Altitude at 2,000 feet MSL and Outside Air Temperature at 100 F the Accelerate and Stop Distance computed to be 3920." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3870C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3870C-1997-03-06), registration cancelled 1997-03-06, S/N LC212 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 65 - Registry model: [Beech 65](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-65) (registry code 1152802) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LC-212 - Airframe hours: 2549 - Engines: Lycoming IGSO-480-A1E6 340 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Advantage Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Terry Lee Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1993, 32 hours before - Airport: AAS, Taylor County, runway 5, 4,997 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 100 in this make and model, 2,811 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AAS, 1 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 19960630015529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960630015529A), Jun 30, 1996: Beech 65, Campsville, KY, Destroyed. On takeoff went through a fence and corn field, then burst into flames. 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.