LAX05CA252

NTSB accident investigation · Beech 35-A33 · Shelter Cove, CA · August 1, 2005

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 1, 2005, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC)
Place
Shelter Cove, CA
Injuries
3 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N375ZBeech 35-A33
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 27, 2005
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20050801019939A
Case key
62125

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during an attempted go around, which resulted in a stall/mush and collision with the ground.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightGo-around (vfr)
Go-around - initiatedPilot in command
Airspeed(vref) - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Stall/mush - inadvertentPilot in command
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The airplane stalled and impacted the ground near the departure end of the runway during the pilot's attempted go around. The pilot reported that on approach, he had been a little high and fast, so he elected to go around. After increasing engine power, the airplane stalled and descended a few feet until colliding with the ground. The pilot reported that no mechanical malfunctions were experienced during the flight. He said his airplane had worked flawlessly, and the accident resulted from his error.

Factual narrative

On August 1, 2005, about 1230 Pacific daylight time, the pilot flying a Beech 35-A33, N375Z, collided with the ground just off the runway's departure end during an attempted go-around at the Shelter Cove (uncontrolled) Airport, Shelter Cove, California. Neither the private pilot nor the two passengers was injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Auburn, California, about 1040.

The pilot verbally reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the airplane was a little high and its airspeed was too fast during his landing approach, so he elected to go around. The pilot stated that he abruptly pushed the engine's throttle forward to obtain full engine power. The engine responded, and power increased. Thereafter, the airplane stalled, and it descended a few feet until colliding hard into the terrain. The pilot also stated that no mechanical malfunctions were experienced during the flight. His airplane had worked flawlessly, and the accident resulted from his "pilot error."

Aircraft

Registration
N375Z
Reported as
Beech 35-A33
Category
Airplane
Serial number
CD-259
Engine
Continental IO-470J, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Joseph J. Miller
Registered owner
Joseph J. Miller
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
AUN · Auburn, CA
Destination
0Q5 · Shelter Cove, CA
Airport
0Q5 · Shelter Cove, runway 30, 3,400 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
74
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Flight hours
4,800 total · 3,800 in this make and model · 40 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
70 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.