# NTSB LAX06FA197: Beech H35, N5455D, Reno, NV, June 7, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: June 7, 2006, 15:05 local (22:05 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.44889, -119.781112 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4489&lon=-119.7811&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report September 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Teledyne Continental Motors, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63873 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06FA197 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63873/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06FA197 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power during takeoff initial climb for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with a house. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - emergency procedure - initiated, pilot in command(cfi) - Loss of control - in flight, emergency descent/landing - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - residence ## Analysis The engine lost power during takeoff and the airplane collided with a house while returning to the airport. A certified flight instructor (CFI) and the airplane's owner (a student pilot) were onboard. The airplane climbed to 6,500 feet mean sea level after takeoff and was about 4 miles from the airport when a loss of engine power was reported. The CFI reported to air traffic control that the airplane would not be able to make it back to the airport and they were trying to find a safe place to land. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying low with the wings rocking back and forth, prior to entering a sharp left turn. The airplane then rolled to the left, nosed down, and impacted the house. Post accident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no mechanical anomalies, and the reason for the power loss was not determined. The student pilot's toxicological report showed positive results for metabolites of cocaine; however, it was unclear if or how the student pilot's use of cocaine contributed to the accident. Although the FAA was aware that the student had a history of felony conviction for substance possession, they did not obtain records to determine the circumstances of that conviction or to determine the identification of the substance. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 7, 2006, at 1505 Pacific daylight time, a Beech Bonanza H35 airplane, N5455D, erupted into flames when it impacted a residential home in Reno, Nevada. A loss of engine power preceded the event. The airplane was registered to the student pilot, who was operating it under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as an instructional flight. He and the certificated flight instructor (CFI) sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was destroyed. The flight departed the Reno International Airport (RNO) about 1500, and was destined for Corona, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the cross-country flight. A review of the air traffic control communications and the recorded radar data revealed the airplane departed runway 16L and climbed straight out to a maximum altitude of 6,200 feet mean sea level (msl) about 4 miles south of the airport. The CFI then reported to air traffic control that the engine's "rpm seems to be dropping down" and that they wanted to return to the airport. The air traffic controller cleared the airplane back to the runway on a right downwind. After a few moments, the CFI indicated that the airplane would not be able to make it back to the airport and they were trying to find a safe place to land. At that time, the air traffic controller acknowledged the CFI's statement and called for the emergency responders. Witnesses located near the accident site indicated that they observed the aircraft flying low. One witness heard the engine making a light purring noise, while others reported hearing no engine noise at all. They all indicated that it was flying very low over the homes and the wings were observed rocking back and forth. The airplane then rolled to the left, nosed down, and impacted the house. PERSONNEL INFORMATION Student Pilot According to the FAA's database, the student pilot obtained a second-class medical certificate/student pilot certificate on September 3, 2004. There were no limitations or waivers. The student purchased the accident airplane in December 2005. According to the student's wife, this was his first cross-country flight. Copies of the student pilot's logbook were obtained from his family. The student pilot had about 100 hours total time with about 45 hours in the accident airplane. The student pilot logged 9 hours of solo flight time. Certified Flight Instructor The CFI held an airline transport pilot certificate for multiengine land airplanes, and a commercial pilot certificate for single engine land and sea airplanes. In addition to being certificated to instruct in single engine airplanes, he also held a flight instructor certificate for multiengine and instrument airplanes. He reported in his last medical application (second-class dated March 2006) that he accumulated a total of 16,000 hours of flight time. The CFI's last medical was issued without any limitations or waivers. The student pilot's logbook showed that the CFI had instructed approximately 25 hours in the accident airplane. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane was manufactured in 1957. The last annual inspection was completed on October 1, 2005, at a total time of 6,504.36 hours. The tachometer time was noted as 229.3 hours. The engine was overhauled in August of 1995, at a total time of 2,777 hours. Prior to departure, the main fuel tanks were topped off with 4.5 gallons of fuel added to the left main fuel tank and 10.5 gallons added to the right main fuel tank. Review of the fueling records and fuel samples obtained from the fuel supplier revealed the fuel was clean and clear and that 100LL fuel was added to the airplane. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane impacted a house, located on Meadow Vista Drive, Reno (39 degrees 26 minutes 56.0 seconds north latitude and 119 degrees 46 minutes 52.2 seconds west longitude). The airplane impacted the southeast corner of the house (a bedroom) and erupted in flames. The right wing was in the patio area adjacent to the impacted bedroom and came to rest upside down. The airplane's v-tail was outside the house next to the bedroom wall that was impacted. The right main landing gear and flap appeared to both be in the retracted position. The left wing was completely destroyed by the post-impact fire with the exception of the left main landing gear, a flap track, and the main and auxiliary fuel tank caps. The v-tail spars remained intact and portions of the rudder-elevators (ruddervators) were identifiable though severely fire damaged. The primary control cables remained with the wreckage and were identified by referencing Beechcraft maintenance manuals. All of the control cables were identified and all cable strands remained continuous. Some of the cables remained attached to the cockpit's control column, but some separated from their respective attach fittings, or their attach fittings were melted. No pre-existing anomalies with the identified airframe components were noted. The engine mounts were fractured, but the engine remained attached to the cockpit area via the engine and propeller control cables. The propeller remained attached to the engine and both blades were attached to the hub. One blade was tight in the clamps and one was loose. Both blades were bent aft at the same span point and neither displayed any rotational damage. There was no leading edge damage noted on either blade. The Continental IO-470-G-G engine was transported to Reno Flying Service where the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, a Teledyne Continental Motors representative, and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed a detailed examination. External examination of the engine did not reveal any crankcase damage. The engine's accessories remained intact and attached. The ignition leads sustained impact and fire damage, but they were all attached to their respective magneto and spark plugs. The top spark plugs were removed and examined. Most displayed a dark discoloration and lead deposits. The magnetos were removed and examined. The gears were rotated with no binding noted; however, internal examination of the magnetos revealed that the timing gear and magnets in both were melted (the right sustaining more heat damage than the left). The fuel pump was removed and examined. The fuel pump coupling and drive gear remained intact and attached. Manual rotation of the gear revealed no binding or internal anomalies. The fuel manifold sustained heat damage and its internal components were exposed. No anomalies were noted with the components, with the exception of the fire damage. The propeller was rotated, which resulted in crankshaft rotation back to the accessory gearbox. Crankshaft and camshaft continuity was confirmed on all cylinder valves and pistons. Thumb compression was obtained on all but the #1, #2, and #3 cylinders. Though the rocker arms were moving and depressing their respective valves, the valve springs had been compressed during the post accident fire and were incapable of securely seating the valves. Removal of the rocker arms and manual manipulation of the valves resulted in compression on all six cylinders. Removal and measurement of all of the valve springs revealed that all of the springs from the rear cylinders were compressed when compared to those removed from the front cylinders. These springs/cylinders also sustained the majority of the heat damage. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION At 1456, the weather reporting facility at the RNO airport (about 3 miles north of the accident site), reported the weather as: wind from 250 degrees at 16 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; a few clouds at 9,000 feet and broken cloud layers at 15,000 and 20,000 feet. The temperature was recorded as 31 degrees Celsius with a dew point of -03 degrees Celsius; and the altimeter setting was record ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5455D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5455D-2009-03-13), registration cancelled 2009-03-13, S/N D-4956, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech H35 - Registry model: [Beech H35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-h35) (registry code 1151520) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-4956 - Airframe hours: 6504.36 - Engines: Teledyne Continental O-470-G-G 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: John S. Monday - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2005 - Departed: RNO, Reno, NV - Destination: L66, Corona, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 49; injuries: fatal; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 100 total - Flight instructor; age 56; injuries: fatal; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 16,000 total, 10,775 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 16 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: RNO, 2 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 20060607009549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060607009549A), Jun 7, 2006: Beech H35, Reno, NV, Destroyed, 2 fatal. (-23) On 7 June, 2006 at 1505 hrs, N5455D departed Reno-tahoe (krno) airport. Approximately 5 minutes after departure the pilot contacted air traffic control… ## Other investigations on N5455D (1) 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. - [NTSB OAK68D0115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK68D0115), Aug 26, 1967: Beech H35 (N5455D), Watsonville, CA, substantial damage 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.