# NTSB LAX94LA338: Beech A36, N36DY, So. Lake Tahoe, CA, August 21, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 21, 1994, 13:25 local (20:25 UTC) - Place: So. Lake Tahoe, CA - Location: 38.8939° N, 119.9953° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LAKE TAHOE (TVL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8939&lon=-119.9953&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 25, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28841 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA338 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28841/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA338 ## Probable cause the pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff when the performance deficiency first became apparent. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - weather condition - high density altitude - weather condition - crosswind - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - object - fence ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N36DY), registered now, S/N E-340, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-340 - Airframe hours: 4794 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940821027089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940821027089A), Aug 21, 1994: Beech A36, South Lake Taho, CA, Substantial damage. Just after liftoff got downdraft unable accelerate aborted late. Ran off end runway into a fence. Density altitude. 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.