- Date
- August 21, 1994, 13:25 local (20:25 UTC)
- Place
- So. Lake Tahoe, CA
- Injuries
- 5 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N36DYBeech A36
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 25, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940821027089A
- Case key
- 28841
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 delayed decision to abort the takeoff when the performance deficiency first became apparent.
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.
Analysis
The pilot reported that just after lift-off from runway 18 at 50 feet he encountered a windshear condition and a downdraft. Concurrent with the windshear condition, the stall warning horn activated and the aircraft ceased to climb. The pilot said he tried once more to get the aircraft to accelerate to a safe gear and flap retraction speed and climb; however, the aircraft did not respond. The pilot said he was concerned about the ability of the aircraft to climb over trees and higher terrain beyond the end of the runway, and aborted the takeoff. The pilot was unable to stop the aircraft prior to overrunning the departure end of the 8,544-foot-long runway and colliding with an airport boundary fence. The density altitude for the takeoff in a 90-degree crosswind condition was computed at 8,700 feet.
Factual narrative
On August 21, 1994, at 1325 Pacific daylight time, a Beech A36, N36DY, overran the runway departure end and collided with a fence during a rejected takeoff at South Lake Tahoe, California. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and included a calculated density altitude of 8,700 feet. The aircraft sustained substantial wing damage. The certificated private pilot and the four passengers on board were not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident as a personal cross-country flight to Watsonville, California.
In his written statement, the pilot reported that just after lift-off from runway 18 at 50 feet he encountered a windshear condition and a downdraft. Concurrent with the windshear condition, the stall warning horn activated and the aircraft ceased to climb. The pilot stated that he lowered the nose and tried one more time to achieve a safe gear and flap retraction speed, and to obtain a positive climb rate. The pilot said he was concerned about the ability of the aircraft to climb over trees and higher terrain beyond the end of the runway and aborted the takeoff. The pilot was unable to stop the aircraft prior to overrunning the departure end of the 8,544-foot-long runway and colliding with an airport boundary fence. The winds were from 290 degrees at 9 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N36DY
- Reported as
- Beech A36
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- E-340
- Airframe hours
- 4,794
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-BB, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Peter K. Weiser
- Registered owner
- Peter K. Weiser
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 4, 1994 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- TVL
- Destination
- WVI · Watsonville, CA
- Airport
- TVL · South Lake Tahoe, runway 18, 8,544 × 150 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
- 44
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 281 total · 188 in this make and model · 135 as pilot in command · 31 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TVL, 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.