# NTSB MIA95LA050: Beech 95-C55, N546V, Arcadia, FL, December 26, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 26, 1994, 06:30 local (11:30 UTC) - Place: Arcadia, FL - Location: 27.2212° N, 81.8584° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Arcadia, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2212&lon=-81.8584&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 3 serious - Status: Completed, report April 5, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37716 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37716/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA050 ## Probable cause POOR IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT FOR ELECTING TO LAND WITH FOG ON THE AIRSTRIP. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBTAIN A FORMAL PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING AND HIS FAILURE TO FULLY APPLY THE BRAKES (NORMAL) AFTER LANDING. ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO RETRACT THE FLAPS FROM THE FULLY EXTENDED POSITION DURING THE ABORTED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with weather, landing - roll - preflight briefing service - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, landing - aborted - object - fence - object - tree(s) - brakes(normal) - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor) - raising of flaps - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM THE TV WEATHER CHANNEL BEFORE DEPARTURE AND FOG WAS NOT MENTIONED NOR DID THE PILOT OBTAIN ANY OTHER WEATHER BRIEFING. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE DESTINATION AIRSTRIP HE CIRCLED SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL LIGHT CONDITIONS IMPROVED. HE LANDED WITH THE FLAPS FULLY EXTENDED, ENCOUNTERED FOG, AND DID NOT FULLY APPLY THE NORMAL BRAKES TO STOP. REALIZING THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING TO STOP HE APPLIED THROTTLE TO GO AROUND; HOWEVER, HE DID NOT RETRACT THE FLAPS. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE BUT COLLIDED WITH A GATE, TREES, THEN THE GROUND. ## Factual narrative On December 26, 1994, about 0630 eastern standard time, a Beech 95-C55, N546V, registered to F. Browne Gregg, crashed during an aborted landing attempt at a private airstrip near Arcadia, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot and two passengers were seriously injured. The flight originated about 0550 from the Leesburg Municipal Airport, Leesburg, Florida. The pilot stated that before departure he watched the TV weather channel to determine weather conditions for the route of flight. Fog was not mentioned for the destination airstrip area and he did not obtain any other weather briefing. Upon arrival at the destination airstrip he orbited several times due to low light conditions. When the light conditions improved, he observed fog near the airstrip and stated to his passengers "we need to get on the ground or go home." After touchdown about half way down the 2,552-foot grass runway with the flaps fully extended, he encountered "dense" fog. He further stated that he was concentrating on the airplane's instruments and did not fully apply the brakes. After observing the runway again he applied full throttle to go around, realizing that there was insufficient runway remaining to stop. He further stated that both engines operated normally and he did not retract the flaps. The airplane then collided with a gate, trees, and came to rest inverted on the ground. Review of the pilot's operating handbook regarding balked landing procedures revealed that the flaps are to be raised to 0 degrees. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N546V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N546V-1995-10-26), registration cancelled 1995-10-26, S/N TE165 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 95-C55 - Registry model: [Beech 95-C55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-c55) (registry code 1152708) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TE-165 - Airframe hours: 6320 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gregg, F. Browne - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport; Standard, Normal; Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 16, 1994, 6 hours before - Departed: LEE, LEESBURG, FL - Airport: Cmi, runway 1, 2,552 × ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 12,000 total, 8,000 in this make and model, 11,600 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dawn - Wind: 40° at 4 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FMY, 37 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 19941226042139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941226042139A), Dec 26, 1994: Beech 95C55, Arcadia, FL, Substantial damage. Encountered dense fog on runway. Began belated go around with full flaps. Ran off end runway into fence and trees. 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.