# NTSB LAX93FA186: Beech 58, N158WB, Tucson, AZ, April 26, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 25, 1993, 17:38 local (Apr 26, 1993, 00:38 UTC)
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.149597, -110.930358 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1496&lon=-110.9304&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 19, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27831
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93FA186
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27831/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93FA186

## Probable cause

THE PILOTS IMPROPER PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, HIS FAILURE TO COMPELTELY SECURE THE AFT UTILITY DOOR, AND HIS FAILURE TO RECONFIGURE THE TRIM TABS TO A TAKEOFF SETTING. THE UTILITY DOOR'S SUDDEN OPENING JUST AFTER ROTATION AND THE EFFECT OF THE NOSE UP TRIM SETTING LED TO AN INADVERTENT STALL DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB.

## 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
  - door,cargo/baggage - not secured (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THE TWIN ENGINE AIRPLANE AND HAD ACCUMULATED ABOUT 123 TOTAL HOURS OF MULTI ENGINE TIME, WITH ABOUT 115 HOURS IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE. WITNESSES STATED THAT JUST AFTER ROTATION THE AIRPLANE PITCHED UP ABRUPTLY AND ROTATED TO THE RIGHT IMPACTING THE GROUND ABOUT 2000 FEET BEYOND THE APPROXIMATE POINT OF ROTATION AND ABOUT 1500 FEET TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY CENTER LINE. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE AFT UTILITY DOORS WERE UNLATCHED, WITH THE AFT DOOR ROTATED REARWARD AGAINST THE FUSELAGE AND THE EXTENSION LIMITING HINGES SHEARED AT THE HINGE PIN. THE ELEVATOR TRIM TABS WERE FOUND IN THE LANDING CONFIGURATION WITH TAB DEFLECTIONS AT ABOUT 9 DEGREES DOWN. THE RUDDER TRIM TAB WAS FOUND 20 DEGREES LEFT DEFLECTION. BOTH ENGINES WERE REMOVED TO AN ENGINE OVERHAUL FACILITY FOR DETAILED EXAMINATION. NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND AND POWER AND ROTATION SIGNATURES WERE EVIDENT. THE AIRPLANE WAS DEPARTING ON RUNWAY 11L FROM TAXIWAY 6 WITH A NINE KNOT TAILWIND AND 9950 FEET OF RUNWAY

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N158WB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N158WB-2015-05-08), registration cancelled 2015-05-08, S/N TH-396, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 58
- Registry model: [Beech 58](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58) (registry code 1152740) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TH-396
- Airframe hours: 2310
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jay M. Supkoff, doing business as S & H Aircraft Leasing
- Registered owner: Supkoff, Jay
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 6, 1992, 115 hours before
- Destination: SJC, SAN JOSE, CA
- Airport: TUS, Tucson, runway 11, 10,994 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,090 total, 123 in this make and model, 29 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TUS, 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 19930425010419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930425010419A), Apr 25, 1993: Beech 58, Tucson, AZ, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Pitched up on initial climbout. Rolled, crashed and burned. Found aft utility door open. Latch was in open position

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.

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