# NTSB LAX95LA203: Beech B23, N6985Q, Mariposa, CA, June 1, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 1, 1995, 16:41 local (23:41 UTC) - Place: Mariposa, CA - Coordinates: 37.489906, -119.999984 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4899&lon=-120.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29110 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA203 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29110/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA203 ## Probable cause the pilot's premature liftoff and his failure to attain and maintain sufficient airspeed during the intial climb which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush back onto the runway. The pilot's failure to maintain directional control as the aircraft touched down again is also causal. A factor in the accident is the pilot's lack of recent flight experience. ## 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 - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE ON HIS FOURTH TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE 'QUIT FLYING, BOUNCED ACROSS MERIDIAN BETWEEN RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY, SLID ACROSS THE TAXIWAY AND STOPPED.' THE PILOT STATED THAT OBSERVERS AND WITNESSES TOLD HIM THAT THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE BACKFIRED AND IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE THROTTLED BACK THEN FORWARD AGAIN. THE RESPONDING FAA INSPECTOR FOUND NO WITNESSES WHO GAVE A REPORT SIMILAR TO THE PILOT'S IMPRESSION. THE FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE PILOT SAID HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AT LIFT-OFF, VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, AND COLLIDED WITH THE TAXIWAY. DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER, THE NOSE GEAR, THE NOSE COWLING, LOWER ENGINE MOUNT, AND FIREWALL RESULTED. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT HIS FLIGHT TIME IN THE 90-DAY PERIOD PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS DISCLOSED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAS FLOWN ONLY 7 HOURS SINCE AUGUST OF 1994. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRPLANE WAS EXAMINED BY AN AIRFRAME AND POWERPLANT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DID NOT FIND ANY DISCREPANCY IN THE AIRFRAME OR THE ENGINE. ## Factual narrative On June 1, 1995, at 1641 hours Pacific daylight time, a Beech B23, N6985Q, crashed during takeoff at Mariposa Airport, Mariposa, California. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the local flight. The flight originated at 1500 as a local area personal flight. In the Pilot/Operator written report, the pilot stated that while on his fourth takeoff, the airplane "quit flying, bounced across meridian between runway and taxiway, slid across the taxiway and stopped." The pilot stated that observers and witnesses told him that the airplane's engine backfired and it sounded like the engine throttled back then forward again. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Fresno, California, Flight Standards District Office, found no witnesses who gave a report similar to the pilot's impression. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot was doing pattern work at the Mariposa airport on runway 26. The inspector reported that the pilot said he lost directional control at lift-off, veered off the left side of the runway, and collided with the taxiway. Damage to the propeller, the nose gear, the nose cowling, lower engine mount, and firewall resulted. The pilot did not report his flight time in the 90-day period prior to the accident. Review of the aircraft maintenance records disclosed that the aircraft has flown only 7 hours since August of 1994. After the accident, the airplane was examined by an airframe and powerplant mechanic. The mechanic did not find any discrepancy in the airframe or the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6985Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6985Q), registered now, S/N M-1095, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH B23 - Registry model: [Beech B23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b23) (registry code 1151240) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M-1095 - Airframe hours: 3152 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2G 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Harvey D. Ferrier - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 5, 1994, 8 hours before - Departed: O68 - Airport: O68, Mariposa-Yosemite Airport, runway 26, 3,310 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 686 total, 226 in this make and model, 639 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 7 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F ## 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 19950601040229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950601040229A), Jun 1, 1995: Beech B23BEECH, Mariposa, CA, Substantial damage. On fourth takeoff lost directional control at liftoff. Veered off runway. Lacked recent pilot time. ## Other investigations on N6985Q (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 MKC72DCQ62](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC72DCQ62), Jun 15, 1972: Beech 23 (N6985Q), Riley, KS, 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.