# NTSB MIA97LA229: Beech 77, N6043T, Pink Hill, NC, August 12, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 12, 1997, 11:20 local (15:20 UTC) - Place: Pink Hill, NC - Coordinates: 35.050167, -77.739822 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0502&lon=-77.7398&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 7, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38324 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA229 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38324/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA229 ## Probable cause Failure of the dual student to maintain airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall and uncontrolled descent until ground impact. Contributing to the accident was improper supervision of the dual student by the pilot-in-command flight instructor. ## 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 - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, dual student (cause) - stall - inadvertent, dual student - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis After takeoff the dual student was maneuvering the aircraft to clear trees ahead. As he turned toward an area of lower trees the nose of the aircraft dropped and the aircraft descended until ground impact. After ground impact the aircraft flipped over. ## Factual narrative On August 12, 1997, about 1120 eastern daylight time, a Beech 77, N6043T, registered to Tarheel Aviation, Inc., crashed shortly after takeoff from Flying W Airport, Pink Hill, North Carolina, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated flight instructor received minor injuries. The dual student received serious injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The flight instructor stated the flight originally departed Albert J. Ellis Airport, Jacksonville, North Carolina. After departure they practiced some takeoffs and landings at Ellis Airport. They then flew to the Flying W Airport, where the dual student lives, and performed a low fly-by of the airport. They flew around the airport to perform a second low fly-by, at which time the dual-student elected to land. They stopped for a few minutes and reviewed the performance charts in the Pilot Operating Handbook. They determined they should be able to depart from the Flying W Airport with some margin for error. The instructor stated the dual student performed a short/soft field takeoff on runway 13. The aircraft lifted off after using a reasonable amount of runway and began to climb. They crossed over a highway at the end of runway at an altitude of about 20 feet. As they continued to climb it appeared they would not clear trees directly ahead. They saw a lower section of trees at their 10 o'clock position and the student turned the aircraft toward them. The instructor noticed the airspeed was about 60 knots as the dual student initiated the turn. The instructor then diverted his attention toward the trees. Within a couple of seconds the nose felt as though it broke in a stall and then the aircraft continued nose down toward the ground. The aircraft felt as though it hit on the left main and nose gears and then on the right main gear. The aircraft then flipped onto its top. He stated they did not have any mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6043T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6043T-2000-01-11), registration cancelled 2000-01-11, S/N WA-13 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 77 - Registry model: [Beech 77](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-77) (registry code 1153007) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: WA-13 - Airframe hours: 2656 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tarheel Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 1997, 30 hours before - Departed: 6N9 - Destination: OAJ, JACKSONVILLE, NC - Airport: 6N9, Flying W, runway 13, 1,850 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 475 total, 20 in this make and model, 395 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GSB, 25 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 19970812021779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970812021779A), Aug 12, 1997: Beech 77, Pink Hill, NC, Substantial damage. Tried to depart short strip high density altitude near gross. Stalled trying to clear trees on climbout. (-23) aircraft departed from grass runway and failed… 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.