- Date
- May 9, 1994, 20:32 local (May 10, 1994, 00:32 UTC)
- Place
- St. Petersburg, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N620BBeech A35
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report December 7, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940509010399A
- Case key
- 37542
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
Failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain airspeed and proper glidepath resulting in the in-flight collision with trees short of the airport property.
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
After takeoff the tower controller advised the pilot that the nose landing gear was extended. The pilot cycled the landing gear but the nose landing gear remained partially extended. The flight returned for landing and while on final approach, the pilot performed a go-around. During the second approach the airspeed got slow and the pilot 'attempted to apply full power but it was too late' and the airplane collided with trees short of the runway.
Factual narrative
On May 9, 1994, about 2032 eastern daylight time, a Beech A35, N620B, registered to James Epperson, collided with trees while returning to land shortly after takeoff from the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, St. Petersburg, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated about 2015.
After takeoff the ATC controller advised the pilot that the nose landing gear was not retracted. The pilot cycled the landing gear but the nose landing gear was partially extended. The pilot flew past the tower and the controller advised him that the nose landing gear was partially extended. The pilot requested a landing clearance which was granted and performed a go-around while on final approach. While on final approach again the pilot stated that he applied full throttle too late. The airplane collided with trees about 15 feet outside of the airport perimeter fence.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N620B
- Reported as
- Beech A35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D-1643
- Airframe hours
- 4,889
- Engine
- Continental E-225, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Epperson, James M.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 13, 1994 · 66 hours before
- Destination
- AUO · Auburn, AL
- Airport
- PIE · St Petersburg-Clearwater
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
- 50
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,902 total · 513 in this make and model · 2,818 as pilot in command · 58 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PIE, 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.