# NTSB LAX04CA179: Beech 95-A55, N686H, Montague, CA, April 6, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 6, 2004, 15:50 local (22:50 UTC) - Place: Montague, CA - Coordinates: 41.730556, -122.545555 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7306&lon=-122.5456&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59021 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA179 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59021/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA179 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during the takeoff climb, which led to a stall/mush. Factors to the accident were the uneven intersection of the two runways, and the pilot's failure to use all of the available runway, and the premature liftoff from the runway. ## 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 - all available runway - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - short runway/landing area - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - uneven (contributing factor) - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane collided with terrain following an in-flight loss of control. The pilot was practicing short field takeoffs and landings on runway 5/23, a turf runway 2,080 feet long. His first landing was on runway 23. He taxied back to he departure end of runway 23 and departed with 20 degrees of flaps. He made a right-hand traffic pattern, and repeated the procedure. The pilot then departed runway 5, starting the departure roll approximately 600 feet from the beginning of the runway. At the intersection of runway 14/32, an asphalt runway, the airplane bounced and became airborne. The airplane climbed to approximately 350 feet agl, and then began turning right. The pilot attempted to correct the right turn with left rudder and aileron. The airplane shuddered and began to stall just prior to impact into an open field. The airplane slid 300 feet before coming to rest. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On April 6, 2004, at 1550 Pacific daylight time, a Beech 95-A55, N686H, collided with terrain during the takeoff climb at the Montague Airport-Yreka Rohrer Field, Montague, California. The owner, a passenger on this flight, was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The local area flight was departing at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local area personal flight. The pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he was practicing short field takeoffs and landings on runway 5/23, a turf runway. His first landing was on runway 23. He taxied back to the departure end of runway 23 and departed with 20 degrees of flaps. He made a right-hand traffic pattern, and repeated the procedure. The pilot then taxied to runway 5 and departed with the airplane in the same configuration. About 1,300 feet down the runway, the airplane bounced and then lifted from the runway. The airplane climbed to approximately 350 feet above ground level, and then began turning right. The pilot attempted to correct the right turn with left rudder and aileron. The airplane shuddered, and began to stall just prior to impact into an open field. The airplane slid 300 feet before coming to rest. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. According to the airport manager, the airplane was landing runway 23. During the second landing, approximately 600 feet from the end of the runway, the airplane spun around and began its takeoff roll. The airplane bounced into the air after crossing the intersection of runway 14/32, an asphalt runway. The Airport Facility Directory, Southwest U.S., indicated that runway 5/23 was 2,080 feet in length. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N686H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N686H-2014-09-10), registration cancelled 2014-09-10, S/N TC-292, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 95-A55 - Registry model: [Beech 95-A55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-a55) (registry code 1152704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TC292 - Engines: Teledyne Continental IO-470 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Thomas Fischer - Registered owner: Perry Garrison and Thomas Fischer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 1O5, Montague, CA - Airport: 1O6, Montague, runway 5 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 13,000 total, 292 in this make and model, 292 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: SIY ## 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 20040406006399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040406006399A), Apr 6, 2004: Beech 95A55, Upper Lake, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot failed to use full length of runway available. Tire prints on the dirt runway indicated that the pilot had approximately 2/3RDS of the available… 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.